Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Nagrajmuni
Publisher: Anuvrat Samiti

Page 69

THEORY OF ATOM
is due to the very nature of things, and hence occurs without outside cause.
58
Why and How Skandhas or Aggregates are formed from Paramanus.
It is a matter of great importance that when each 'paramanu' is like a brick in an edifice, an independent indivisible unit, then how do they join together and form vast aggregates (skandhas) like galaxies. In erecting an edifice not only separate bricks are necessary but we also require mortar, cement and such other bonding substances and also a mason who joins and puts them together In this infinite universe, composition and decomposition of aggregates (skandhas) occurs every moment A cloudless sky is found to be full of clouds within a short space of time ie, the skandhas in the form of clouds are combined together and within some more space of time they are seen to disperse also. What is the cause of this natural formation of skandhas? Whatever thing appears before a man in a form and which man thinks to be an original thing, is, but the actual effect of the joining together of the 'paramanus'. Jain philosophers have enunciated the following rules for the formation of aggregates (Skandhas).22
(1) In the formation of a skandha, the only effective quality is the adhesiveness or dryness of the Paramanus
22 Shri Jain Sidhanta Dipika-p 1