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16/JAIN STUDIES AND SCIENCE
VICE-CHANCELLOR'S NOTE
An investigator who sets out in search of truth travels incessantly towards the aim of its revelation. Truth of our existence is all pervasive and omnipresent. It cannot be invented, it can only be explored. What is truth, how is it like, why is it so, with all these questions begins the journey of a truth-seeker and with the answers and solutions, the purpose of the journey gets accomplished. The enlightened person himself becomes the destination. The path undertaken by him looses its significance, as several paths are available to reach the same destination. This journey continues till the time the investigator reaches the pinnacle. Philosophy and science are two paths of truth-exploration. The main aim of their journey is to explore the esoteric secrets of life and the universe. The axis for the journey of philosophy is all-encompassing conscience, whereas for science, path of journey is the physical world. Both these branches of knowledge are not against each other, but are complementary to one another. The world of philosophy has explored the essence of life, thereby presenting many truths about cosmology, which are in league with modern science. Science too, if moves towards the exploration of consciousness, can become more effective.
Lord Mahavira has considered the knowledge of both soul and body important for the spiritual experience. This statement is expressed in Dasavealiyam Suttra:
जो जीवे वि न याणाई, अजीवे वि न याणई ।
जीवाजीवे अयाणतो, कहं सो नाहिइ संजमं ? (दसवें 4712)
jo jeeve vi na yaanai, ajeeve vi na yanai
jeeva ajeeve ayananto, kahani so nahii sanjamam (Dasave, 4/12)
Without the Right knowledge of soul and non-soul, including matter, self-control cannot be achieved. This maxim of spirituality, in fact, expresses the scientific phenomenon of Jain studies. Lord Mahavira was a spokesman of spiritualism. He not only attained the state of transcendental consciousness himself, but guided his followers in that direction. Question thus arises, why those aspiring for soul-consciousness, need the understanding of materialistic world? He should be contended with the aspects of soul alone. What is the purpose of knowing other substances? It is because the cognition of Lord Mahavira was multi dimensional. He did not accept just one facet of existence, but kept the entire truth within the realm of his cognisance. In his philosophy, just as soulconsciousness has an identity, so has the matter. In totality of our existence, the importance of both 'body and soul', 'tangible and intangible' and 'physical and spiritual' is equally prevailing - one cannot outweigh the other.
The basic principle of Jain Philosophy is:
"जदत्थि णं लोगे तं सव्वं दुपओआरं,
तं जहा
जीवच्चेव अजीवच्चेव"
( ठाणं 2 / 1 )
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