Jainism Eternal and Universal Path for Enlightenment

Author(s): Narendra Bhandari
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

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Jainism: The Eternal and Universal path for Enlightenment
Jainism divides the universe in two distinct parts; living and non-living but gives equal importance to both. Just as physics is the science of the physical universe, Jainism is the science of soul, and more, since it also takes the physical universe into consideration. As any physicists will agree, the universe is governed by certain laws; the laws of physics are universal, applicable at all times and places, can not be violated and there is no scope for miracles. Only when we do not understand a particular phenomena in terms of the known laws of physics, we call it a miracle but the moment the phenomena is explained, the miracle ceases to exist. The same is true of living beings. The science of living beings or soul is more complicated but according to Jainism, it also follows certain laws. When we do not understand these laws fully, we invoke God, but moment the phenomena are understood, the need for a "GOD" disappears. Jainism has propounded these laws applicable to living beings, the soul. These laws, Jainism claims, have been enunciated by the Enlightened souls after they realized the state of omniscience through meditation and other techniques.
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According to Jainism, there are six cardinal truths (Chapter 2), applicable to jivas. The Ajiva is made of space, matter (pudgala), dharm 'stikya, adharm stik1ya and time constituting the physical universe. Although science agrees with existence of space, matter and time, what dharm1stik 1ya and adharm 1stik 1 ya are remains a mystery and will be debated in Chapter 7. These six entities of the universe are eternal, beginningless, indestructible, fixed in number and except matter, are incorporeal. These eternal entities behave according to laws, are independent of each other, can not influence each other nor can they be influenced by any thing internal or external, nor can they act on their own i.e. they are passive. Their extent in space determines the boundaries of the universe (Loka).
Jainism has propounded two basic theories or fundamental principles on which our understanding of the universe and universal processes are based. These are: Anek1ntav'd(multifacedness) and Karmav1d(causality). Both are equally applicable to physical as well as to the conscious (ma or Self) universe. Anek 'ntav❜ddescribes the true nature of the universe and Karmav1d describes the basic laws which govern all the processes in the universe. Anek 1ntav1d (Chapter 3) implies that the soul has multiple properties, some even contradictory, and all manifest at the same time. It is therefore beyond logic or description. This is the true nature of soul. Anekintavid does not consider the physical universe as an illusion as some oriental dharmas do but accepts it also as real. Karmavid, the law applicable to the soul, is equivalent of causality in the physical universe. Every action has a consequence and every effect has