Sambodhi 1977 Vol 06

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 25

The convergence of the...Jainism
In the next section, we discuss the importance of Dharniāstikāya in the light of the recent developments,
4. Relativity, qusatami mechanics anil Dharmästikāya?, 5, 6
The principles oi' relativity and quantum mechanics are the two most fundamental and revolutionary developments of this centuary. The ideas of syādavāda and the concept of pradeşi are already there in Jainisin for these two respectively. However, we do not go into the details of their similarities. We discuss here an entirely new thing.
Each one of the above theory is perfect in its own domain. However, in the reality any natural phenomenon involves relativity and quantum mechananics botli and hence to describe any phenomenon more exactly one should study relativity and quantum mechanics together. When such an attempt is made, we find lot of difficulties. We illustarte one of thein.
Relativity says that all physical laws are invariant in difierent frames moving with respect to each other with a uniform velocity. However in practice we cannot have such fames moving with constant velocity because to even know that there is a velocity between the two frames, we have to allow so nc interaction to occur between the frames. Thus to see the frame moving one has to use some light signal. By quantum mechanics a light signal consists of photons and a photon las effective mass and momentum. The transfer of photons between the frames will disturbe their relative velocity because of the conservation of momentum and this in turn is bc. yond our control. There are similar other difficulties which come in the way while reconciling relativity and quantum mechanics. To resolve these difficulties it has been suggested hy Dirac that we might have to introduce once again the concept of medium of motion which was once rejected because of the theory of the relativity. However the properties of such a medium of motion which has been called here as Dharmāstikāya may play some important role in resolving the above disputes. The fact that it is only capable of maintaining the motion and not capable of inducing the motion is very remarkable. It is also signilicant that it does not move from one point to another but there are some vibrations-like things taking place in it known by the property of Agurulaghutva. The fact that such a medium of motion called an Ether was not detected by Michelsion Morley experiment may be simply because of the fact Uiat this is nonmaterial as is given here and is therefore not detectable by material means. A recent argument by Prof. Sudarshan that this medium of motion may be a superfluid further strengthens our argument.
We now go to discuss the problems of particle physics and a possible remedy which the principle of Syādavāda can provide.