Science And Jain Philosophy

Author(s): Raksha J Shah, Abhijit Muni, Pooja Banthia
Publisher: International Conference on Science and Jain Philosophy

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International Conference on Science and Jain Philosophy 2016
Science has done a commendable job in exploring the body functions but in the absence of insight into the reality the brain processes are sometimes mistaken to belong to the realm of consciousness. Many scientists, psychologists and philosophers have rightly questioned this supposition which does not have a sound scientific and logical support. Consciousness can never be explored by scientific means, it can only be experienced. Our experiences are generally subjective, and therefore uncertain, as said before, which prompts the investigators to deny the existence of consciousness as a distinct entity.
All organisms, small and big, possess soul; no life is possible without soul. The consciousness of organisms is not a part of a universal consciousness, as supposed by some philosophies; each individual consciousness follows the law of causality, which is not possible if universal consciousness is assumed. The law of causality is a universal law that applies equally well to all existences animate or inanimate. The soul has existed since the beginning less past and has not been created by any super power. Since soul, and also paramanu, the smallest indivisible constituent of matter, is neither created nor destroyed. The total number of souls, and paramanus, in the cosmos is a fixed quantity that runs in infinity. The form of souls changes according to the law of causality; all organisms are in a different state of development of consciousness. There exists no super power like God the creator, the cosmos is governed by the laws, known or unknown, which are applicable to animate and inanimate objects. Modern science has been able to discover the laws for the physical order of existence at macro and micro level. But this enquiry is not yet complete and there are many more aspects of nature still unknown to science. For example, matter also exists in subtle form, much smaller than the particles known today, and the laws for this kind of matter are likely to be different from the known laws, such as super luminal speed, anti-gravity property, etc. Study of such matter may need a radically different approach from that employed now.
Our existence is at three levels soul, subtle and gross bodies. The gross body is being studied by science but the subtle body is still unknown to it. The functions of the gross body cannot be understood fully without knowing the subtle body and its interactions with the gross body. The mind is a part of the subtle body and is different from the brain. The subtle mind is yet unknown to present day science and needs a different approach for its study that may involve a mix of scientific methods and conscious experiences. The subtle body is likely to have the property of coherence that enables storage of vast amount of information and very fast processing of information typical of life processes. The mind is intimately linked to the brain and the two are supposed to interact through radiations. It means that the brain must also have the capability to receive and transmit signals from the mind. The study of mind-brain connection is likely to reveal many secrets of nature and also lead to the recognition of soul as distinct entity by science. I feel that there is a great scope for scientists, psychologists and philosophers to work together and put up a joint effort to uncover the mysteries of nature, particularly relating to life.
The spiritual leaders like Mahavira knew the reality, subtle, micro and micro, in all its aspects by their spiritual powers. They did not need any scientific instrument; it was the power of their soul that enabled them to perceive all details of nature in its true and objective form. Their teachings and the description of the cosmos available today is qualitative but is sufficient for us to realize the distinct features, the diversity and the qualities of the constituents of nature, particularly at subtle level. The science has explored the micro and macro states of physical nature, and therefore the spiritual science and modern science together provide us means for knowing the nature to its fullest extent. Spirituality and science are complimentary, and not opposing, partners. Science explores a part of reality experimentally, theoretically and quantitatively and spirituality knows the whole range of reality intuitively.
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