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
86
perceives an object or a phenomena based on its past experiences so that it is conditioned by the past perceptions and need not be perfect. The perception depends on the observer and as the consciousness evolves, the perception comes closer to truth (say from the perception of an ant to that of an elephant to that of a human). Only in case of a Kevali (omniscient) their perception, being supersensory and not depending on the imperfect sensory organs, is correct.
Jainism postulates that the finite Loka (Universe) is immersed in an infinite Aloka. The Universe consists of two group of entities Jiva and Ajiva. Ajiva consist of five "substances”: ksh (space), Dharm'stik ya, Adharm stik ?ya, matter and time. The extent of these six basic substances" define the universe and they all are eternal and inexhaustible. Jiva (psychical or sentient beings), and matter (Pudgal-stikya) are active, i.e. capable of interacting, corporeal and mobile, and others (kush, Dharmastik? ya, Adharmastik Iya and time are passive or inert, are coexisting, and do not interfere with each other. "Substance" here does not mean "matter” but is taken to mean as basic constituent, Dravyas, reals or "varities!". Ak 'sh is not considered to be cosmic space but something which provide abode (space) to these “substances”. Substances are subject to modification and can exist in various modes (forms). ksh, Dharm - stik ya, Adharm stik ya and time by themselves are incorporeal and stationary (motionless). , ksh, Dharm 1 stikya and Adharm istik ya are single entities, homogeneous, isotropic, uniform and indivisible. kash, matter and time are made of infinitesimal indivisible units and aksh is homogeneous in all directions. The smallest unit of kish is called pradesha and of matter is called Parm 'nu. A parm 'nu is dimensionless. One to infinite parm 'nus can occupy one pradesha. Parm 'nus or their clusters constituting matter have corporeal properties like touch, smell, taste and colour. Parmnus combine to make Vargan's as discussed in Chapter 10 and give rise to various types of matter, their properties and powers.
Science agrees with existence of Space (k+sh), time and matter being the substances of the Universe and the Universe is expanding. Expanding into what?, one may ask. In to space surrounding it and if the Universe is going to expand for ever, the space surrounding it has to be infinite. But "Space" of modern cosmology is distorted by gravitational field and itself expands, according the current theories of the Universe, and is not strictly the , kush of Jainism which is passive and can not expand or contract or get distorted in any manner. This subtle difference between Space and
kush is significant. The other two constituents are Dharm stik?ya and Adharm stik ya. In Jainism, they are traditionally considered to be media of motion