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4.
There is distinction between occupied and non-occupied universe as the occupied one is finite due to existence of material entities in it. Its finiteness is determined and controlled by the medium of rest and motion. 5. The functions of helping motion and rest of the living and mattergies characterise the realities of medium of motion and rest respectively. In other words, these functions are the differentia of these realities.
The Jaina world of Non-living
6. It is known that any activity results due to two main causes- (i) material and (ii) instrumental. The material causes of motion or rest are always the living and mattergic entities which have innate potency for these activities. The realities of medium of rest and motion are only instrumental and neutral causes.
7. It has already been said that the current scientific equivalents for these two realities are the Ether of space (medium of motion) and Field (gravitational and electromagnetic medium of rest). These are now supposed to be inert mediums. The properties of 'Field' are not very clear to the scientists but they feel that gravitational forces are responsible for the stability of universe while electromagnetic forces account for binding the microworld. In contrast to these two physical agencies, the Jainas have only one for stablising the micro and macroworld.
8.
G. R. Jain rightly says that the scientists cannot postulate any non-mattergic or invisible entity on their own accord until they are forced. However, they also have postulates of invisible particles like neutrino etc. to explain some normally unexplainable phenomena. However, the scientists feel that they can explain the worldly phenomena even without postulating non-material agencies.
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Jain Education International
The existence of supra-sensual mediums of rest and motion has been inferred from their functions. What are, then, the functions of another supra-sensual reality of space which could lead to learn about its existence? The aphorism 5.18 is intended to respond to this point:
Akāśasya-avagāhah
5.18
Accommodation of all the substances and realities is the function of the reality of space 5.18.
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