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
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beginning required for primitive life to oxidizing atmosphere containing 22% of oxygen required for life of higher order) tells us that it has evolved or changed the environmental conditions in sync with the requirements of life so that the life may survive and evolve. This hypothesis, called "Gaia" proposed by the British astronomer Lovelock has very profound implications to the interaction between Jiva and Ajiva. The same hypothesis can be extended to the whole universe where the "Brahma" (or self) dictates all the physical processes to suit its own requirements and the whole universe can thus be considered as a mega-organism, every part of it working for the sustenance of the supreme Brahma. Buddhist cosmology goes a step further when it postulates that an appropriate Universe is created automatically and spontaneously where souls can undergo the consequence of their past karmas.
Based on the various points discussed in this chapter we find that there is some common ground between modern science and Jainism. Some of these aspects are listed in Table 7.1.
We see from this table that there are a few areas where physics and Jainism have basically the same views and apparently agree. However, it may be noted that there are many important areas where there is a serious conflict between them. We mention a few such examples here. Jainism believes that the universe is eternal, grossly never changing on a gross scale, that is similar to Steady State universe, whereas science asserts that it originated in a Big Bang. Whether the Universe is a Big Bang universe, Steady State universe or oscillating, cyclic universe is a continuing point of debate. Some of these aspects are discussed in the next chapter. Science has postulated basic constituents of the Universe as space, matter and energy), time, forces and fields. Jainism agrees with the first three, i.e. Space, matter and time but has postulated Dharmastik'ya and Adharmastik' ya as the other two components, besdies jiva. These are called the six reals constituting the Universe. Jainism classifies matter in six kinds, varying between gross and fine whereas science classifies matter into macro and micro; the macroworld follows classical physics and fine matter (microworld) follows quantum physics. Both physics and Jainism believe in laws of conservation applicable to certain quantities. For example, Jainism asserts that quantity of the six constituents of the universe, mentioned above, is constant and can not be changed under any condition. Whereas science considers matter (energy), momentum and several other parameters are conserved in all changes. Science is working on the hypothesis that life can arise from matter but Jainism considers both as independent reals, one can not be produced from the other and both are eternal. It should be emphasised that