Journal of Gyansagar Science Foundation 2013 04 01

Author(s): Sanjeev Sogani, Vimal Jain
Publisher: Gyansagar Science Foundation

Page 102

Dr. Parasmal Agarwal, Volume 1 Issue 1 April 2013
Question: What about the involvement of engineers and scientists in the production of electricity in the nuclear plant? Does natural science give any place to engineers and scientist in the process?
The above description of Nimitta is very crude. In more advanced description, the things, souls, persons are not called as the Nimitta but the specific actions and states leading to the desired specific outcome are considered as Nimitta.
Answer: The Physics clearly says that in the nuclear power plant, the electricity comes from the nuclear fuel, not from the pockets of engineers and scientists. The engineers and scientists cannot create energy. We all know that without labor force, security guards, politicians, scientists, engineers, clerical staff, finance, physical space, etc. the power plant can neither be functional nor can be sustained. But all these aspects are recognized by the social sciences and engineering disciplines, not by the natural sciences. None of these persons becomes the part of scientific equations describing the transformation of nuclear energy into the electricity.
This concept of recognizing specific actions of a person or a soul or a robot, as the case may be, leading to the desired outcome, as Nimitta is so important that it would be worthwhile to explain it by giving some examples: In a cricket match, suppose a cricket player makes six sixes on six successive balls. Certainly, he deserves appreciation, credit, award, etc. But on the basis of this, if his fellow citizens and fans say, 'You did very good job. Now we know that you can make six runs on every ball. Therefore, we request you to continue this practice. Please go on making such sixes. If you do this then we shall reward you, but if you do not continue making such sixes on every ball then we shall consider it a match fixing and we would criticize and punish you." Would he agree to this request by his fans? Would it be possible to make such sixes on all balls?
Question: If engineers and scientists are needed in the nuclear power plant, then how can we say that they are not the doer or creator of the electricity?
Answer: The engineers and scientists deserve appreciation and salary for their contributions. But in the equations of Physics related with the production of electricity, they do not get any place. If public does not recognize this fact then on one hand the public may be too much thankful to them and on the other hand the public may have too much expectation from them. In such case, even the public may expect a continuous supply of electricity irrespective of the availability of nuclear fuel.
At this point, the player may say, "It is not possible for me to make six runs on every ball. The making of a six runs is a matter of circumstances based on the conditions of my body, mind, incoming ball, etc. which are beyond my control." This answer of the player seems reasonable. In effect, he is saying that the conditions of his body, mind, and incoming ball are the instrumental cause for such a happening, and he is not even an instrumental cause for the making of sixes. Therefore, it is not always possible to repeat the same.
Question: Can we say that engineers and scientist associated with the nuclear power plant are the Nimitta (instrumental cause) for the production of electricity?
Answer: The Physics does not use this word 'Nimitta' (instrumentalcause). The Physicsisinterestedin describing 'how'. This 'how' is described through machines, forces, and the laws of nature. Acārya Kundakunda and other Indian philosophers use 'Nimitta' word in a proper context. If all other components including engineers and scientists work properly and the electricity is produced, then each component is called the instrumental cause (Nimitta), and the actual source of energy (nuclear fuel) is called Upaadaan. If they make mistakes or if any component is missing and the electricity is not produced then they are not called as Nimitta. If by their mistake there is an explosion and many persons loose their lives then they would be Nimitta for the deaths of those persons.
Just like this cricket player, a teacher, a doctor, parents, and many others should also accept similar limitations. In the technical language of scriptures, one can say that the state (Paryāya) of a Dravya becomes the Nimitta (instrumental cause), not the Dravya (substance or entity). The logic is simple: if a Dravya is an instrumental cause (Nimitta) then such a task can happen every time by that Dravya. The happening of the task again and again by a Nimitta in association with the Upādāna has been termed as Nitya Kartratva by Acārya Amratchandra in the commentary of Gāthā 100 (7]. There he explains that Nitya Kartratva (always same success in doing the same task) is not always possible. Therefore, the participating Dravya cannot be called as a Nimitta, but the states of Dravya responsible for the completion of the desired task are to be called as Nimitta.
More advanced concept of Nimitta
In the above example, the cricket player says that if I can be Nimitta of making six runs on every ball then I would love to do so, but I am unable to become such Nimitta.
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