Jain Studies and Science

Author(s): Mahaveer Raj Gelada
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 104

98 / JAIN STUDIES AND SCIENCE
c. Conclusion - Jain philosophy does not endorse the scientific
statement that the physical brain itself is the soul. It is affirmative
that the amorphous soul is separate and beyond the physical mind. 2. Soul and Senses
Scientific View - It is a standard practice in scientific fraternity to study the cause and effect relationship. They apply same theory for the investigation of presence of soul. A Russian scientist, Pavlov, surgically removed the brain tissues of a dog converting it to a comatose. Dog lost all its senses and could not recognise even its master or the favourite food. Pavlov concluded that the conscience
is lost in the absence of physical brain. b. Philosophical View - Mahapragya has pointed the fallacy of
above argument. The main flaw in above argument was that in spite of brain's absence, the dog lived. It is enough to know that the conscience does not emanate from the brain. Brain is just one of many tools a body utilises to fulfil the assigned tasks. Various forms of life exist in this universe, like the plants etc., which possess the soul but do not have brain in its true sense. Their feelings of joy, pain, fear etc. are by virtue of the
conscience and soul present in them. c. Conclusion - Like mind and conscience, senses too are not the
exact equivalent of the soul. 3. Soul and Ahar-pragyapti
It has now being established that our senses are the centres of energy. Our five senses have the largest concentration of magnetism exhibited by the body. If this magnetism can be evenly distributed throughout the body, we may achieve the transcendental knowledge, as in such an eventuality each body part will become conducive to all kinds of stimulations. Similarly, the mental activities are dependent on chemicals and electrical pulses. These chemicals are formed by our dietary intake. The quality of our meals decides our personality and mental status. This cycle of meals and mind is minutely understood in the spiritual realm of Jainism. Jainism has painstakingly tried to bring about this fact that though what we obviously see is the physical form having mind, intelligence, sense etc., but the soul should not be identified with them.
a. Scientific View - Scientists are incessantly trying to create life forms