Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Nagrajmuni
Publisher: Anuvrat Samiti

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JAIN PHILOSOPHY & MODERN SCIENCE
the experiment of dropping an apple held in my hand. Remember that the lift and all things contained in it are falling frely all the while. To my surprise I shall se that the apple cannot fall any more than it is already doing, owing to the free fall of lift. The apple remains poised in my hand" Thus the gravitation 'exists' and also 'does not exist. It should be borne in mind that we have taken gravitation as an illustration Actually Einstein has annihilated its very existence from the field of science Syadwad says that in conclusion we may take it for granted that things are "Anant Dharmatkam," 1e. having infinite attributes. They have infinite modes and particulars Whenever we talk about a thing, we consider one of them as principal and others as subsidiary. Our truth therefore is relative The same thing may be different from different points of view 1The orange 15 bigger than the lemon, but from the viewpoint of the material attributes, the orange contains bigness as well as smallness The smallness of the orange is revealed when it is compared to a water-melon. Thus the terms smallness or bigness as used in daily practice are only relative The ultimate bigness is in the universal immanence (Mahaskandh) and the ultimate smallness is in the atom of matter.2
1 (Shri Jain Siddhanta Deepika Prakasha 1, Sutia 12) 2 The atom of matter (Paramanu) should not be confused . with the atom of an element which is composed of infinite number of Paramanus A Paramanu is the ultimate and indivisible particle.