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THEORY OF MATTEREALS AND JAIN PHILOSOPHY /99
in the laboratory. For this they are conducting various experiments to find those conditions in which it is possible to create a life-form. . In one of the experiments, conducted by renowned scientist
Lois Pasture, it was found that micro organisms do multiply in the presence of air and the availability of any food product. In another experiment, Miller simulated all the favourable environmental conditions like temperature, air, sun light and humidity and kept the proteins in this controlled environment as suggested by Dr. Yare. After continuous observation for seven days, he failed to achieve any live proteins. Scientists have also studied the food cycle of plants. They have found that the plants intake food from the soil. Though this food does not have life, by the action of chlorophyll this food is converted in live cells. How life is infused in a life
less matter is still unexplained at their end. Zb. Philosophical View-Mahapragya does not acknowledge the findings
of such experiments until the physical processes adopted by the scientists actually yield in a life-form purely through physical means. Jains disagree with the science view point of life-forms constituted of multiple live cells. In Jain's view, the soul is not a collection of countless cells. The process of acquiring a body by a soul is called birth. This event takes place only under very special circumstances and one such is Ahar-Paryapti. That is why the soul does not occupy just any readily available mature body, but it finds abode in a nascent body only. In Jain literature this typical term of Ahar-Paryapti means the first food
which helps the soul in acquiring a body form. 4. Life in Plants
· Jains have classified life-forms in two categories - itinerant and motionless. While the presence of life in moving being is obvious, it is present in those beings too which are apparently stationary. Such life-forms are of five types as described in Jain literature -
Prithvikaya (Earthly) Apkaya (Waterly) Tejaskaya (Firely) Vayukaya (Airly) Vanaspatikaya (floral)
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