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Studies on Biology in Tattvārtha-Stūra :
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tradition. He has followed the same practice through these aphorisms to maintain that though the Jiva is mostly physical but it is associated with some specific non-physical phenomenon too. The transmigration process exemplifies it. In fact, this concept is based on two religious postulates: (1) The Concept of Eternal Non-material Soul
The living body consists of at least three types of bodies - (1) Gross; eye-perceptible bodies (2) Fine body (microscope-perceptible) (3) Superfine Karmic body. Besides it has something else. At death, this something associated with these superfine bodies moves out of the gross body. What is this something? The religionists call it soul - the karma - free eternal non-material entity. Its nature is not subject to scientific investigations, only it is accepted on the basis of its functioning-consciousness etc. Many scholars have discussed the indirect acceptance of this concept by the scientific community. However, imaginative concepts differ from realistic ones. The equivalence of soul, mind and consciousness raises some points to call it as a fine force. At death, the finer bodies associated with this force fly away for next place of birth, through trans-migratory motion. (2) The Concept of Rebirth and Salvation
The pure soul does not have rebirth. It is called solvated or karmically freed. However, the worldly being is always karmically associated with a strong desire for being karmically freed. He has to wander in the world to a cycle of spiritual up-gradation - degradation until he becomes free of rebirth. Thus, the concept of rebirth is meant only for worldly beings. The forceful finer bodies of the dead worldly being take rebirth.
Both these concepts seem to be more of psychological origin like the concept of God, which lead men to be always optimistic for better life, efforts and brotherhood. On the whole, the transmigratory motion is beyond the scope of science at this time. The para-psychologists are not unanimous on both of these concepts. They feel it a question of faith and self-experience. 8. Volitional or Psychic Attributes of the Living
It has been pointed out that T.S. and other Jaina Texts refer to more than a dozen volitional or psychic attributes of the living beings
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