Scientific Secrets of Jainism

Author(s): Nandighoshvijay
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

Page 63

32
Scientific Secrets of Jainism
nature is also exhibited by light, which can take the form of electromagnetic waves or particles. The particles of light were first called 'quanta' by Einstein hence the origin of the term 'quantum theory' and they are now known as photons.
"This dual nature of matter and of light is very strange. It seems impossible to accept that something can be at the same time, a particle - an entity confined to a very small volume - and wave which is spread out over a large region of space."
"An electron is neither a particle nor a wave. It may show particle-like aspects in some situation and wave-like aspects in others. While it behaves like a particle, it is capable of developing its wave nature at the expense of its particle nature and vice versa, thus undergoing continual transformation from particle to wave and from wave to particle."
Here comes to an end the history of the particle theory and the wave theory with reference to light from the view point of modern physics.
Jain scriptures clearly explain this phenomenon. According to them, there are six fandumental eternal elements (dravyas) namely, 1. Jiva i.e. the living element (Ātmā or soul) 2. Dharma i.e. the medium for motion 3. Adharma i.e. the medium for rest 4. Ākāśa i.e. space 5. Pudgala i.e. matter 6. Kāla i.e. Time. Out of these six dravyas Dharma, Adharma and Ākāśa are formless. They do not have properties of shape, odour, taste, touch and colour. Living together with pudgala, the soul attains a concrete form. But the pure soul is formless i.e. colourless and shapeless. Jain philosophers regard Kāla (time) as a dravya and this is a distinct feature of Jain philosophy. Kāla is also formless but its existence can be inferred from its functions.
In short, every object in the whole universe, whether it is microscopic or macroscopic, visible or invisible, perceptible or imperceptible, is either a pudgala or a soul living in contact with pudgala (matter). And the minutest particles of pudgala which can never be divided into more particles in any of the three phases of time, (i.e. the past, the present and the future.) is called a paramāņu (ultimate atom). A combination of these minutest particles (paramāņus) can constitute any object in the universe. A pudgala has infinite energy. A pure soul also has infinite energy. But the great