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34 / JAIN STUDIES AND SCIENCE
3.1. Science & Universe
Mentions of mass-less pudgals, their capacity to break the barrier of speed of light under certain conditions of migration, Tamas-kaya (black holes), extent and constitution of universe, cyclic nature of time, recurring reincarnations, etc. in the Jain literature are now understood better with the contribution of science which has established these facts through experiments and cause-effect analyses. Science today, has three imaginary mass-less entities - (i) Photons - to explain light and electromagnetic radiations, (ii) Gravitons – to explain forces of gravitational attraction among material bodies and (iii) Gluons - to explain the behaviour of sub-atomic micro particles. In the Jain theory of Karma, details of karmic varganas (we shall call them Actons), their attachment to the soul, movement of soul during birth-rebirth and emancipation are all attributed to the weightlessness of the actons (Karma Pudgals). Obvious vicinity of scientific and spiritual concepts is astonishing.
Jain concepts of motion are also of far reaching consequences. Similar to karmic-atoms (karmavargana or actons), conscience-atoms (manvargana) and speech-atoms (bhashavargana) are considered mass-less in Jain supposition. This helped in explaining the long distances travelled by them in a moment's time. These concepts of motion widely differ from those proposed by science. While as per science, the maximum speed achievable is equal to that Whereas, as per Jains', infinite speed is attained by sukshma pudgals.
Jain philosophy has dwelled into the realms of cosmic universe as much as it did into the micro world of massless pudgals. Its explanation of finite universe constituted of Dharmastikaya (dynaons) & Adharmastikaya (statons) Duo deserves a keen study by scientists today. Readers will find a curious comparison between the Jain and science concepts of universe -
According to the scientific knowledge available so far, there is nothingness (void) wherever there is no matter or particle. They presume that even between the nucleus and the orbiting electrons there lay emptiness. This implicitly means that the entire universe is actually inter-spread in the nothingness. In other words, the emptiness of Alok is inseparable from the existence of the Lok.
According to Jains, the finite boundary of Lok (Universe) is well defined by the presence of Dharmastikaya - Adharmastikaya and Alok is void of this pair. This is elaborated in later chapters.
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