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
96
the laws, three possibilities arise 1. Laws were in effect (existing) before the Universe originated.
Laws and Universe (and time) came into existence simultaneously, ie at the same time. Laws are eternal and so is the Universe: they have existed at all times in the
past and will continue for ever. They did not originate. The first assumption explains that the universe originated following some laws and not in an arbitrary, ad hoc or lawless manner and is continuing to evolve according to the same laws. If time and laws are created simultaneously, there was no time before the universe began and the question as to what was before can be avoided. In this assumption, it is implied that the laws are spontaneous, swayambhoo, self created. If laws themselves are created spontaneously, then the law of spontaneous creation is one of the basic law. Once it is accepted that the laws can appear spontaneously out of nothing then there is no difficulty in generating everything else also spontaneously. If the universe and laws appeared together, i.e. they are coupled, arguably laws will also evolve as does the Universe. They are linked and interdependent. Observationally we find that the Universe has evolved over the ages but laws of physics have remained the Universe same. All attempts to see any time variations in basic laws (for example, the law of gravity) have so far not been successful. The laws are universal, applicable at all times and places. The third alternative is that the laws are eternal. If laws are eternal, then why not matter (ajiva) and jiva too are eternal? This is the basis of the steady state concept of the universe. To resolve the problems stated in the first two assumptions, Jains believe that certain "things" (Jiva, ajiva and other tattvas) are eternal and the universe follows the Steady State model. Jiva and Ajiva always existed as they are now. There is no origin or creation. But we know that the Universe, the earth and the life has originated and evolved (see e.g. chapter 1) and one day they will also be destroyed. In this respect a Buddhist concept is very appealing. They postulate that karmas of sentient beings is the motive force for origination of the material Universe (or at least various habitat planets, like, for example, the earth). Appropriate habitats and their environments are automatically and spontaneously created by nature to meet the requirements of the karmas accumulated by the sentient beings so that they can go through their consequences.
To circumvent the problem of origin and destruction of Universe and the changes we see around, Jainism postulates cycles of various types within a steady state Universe. These cycles result in origin, evolution, sustenance and dissolution of various bodies