YJA Convention 1996 07 San Francisco CA Second

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 12

Notes:
This purity is achieved by freeing the soul of karmic particles that are attached to it and be ceasing to attract karmic particles to the soul. Karmic particles are physical entities which bind to the soul due to various thoughts or actions. Both Karmic particles and the soul have yet to be discovered by modern science. (Also see the Karma Theory section of this paper).
'There are five classifications of knowledge: empirical, articulate, clairvoyant, mindreading, and omniscient.
This is not to say that all humans cannot achieve omniscience. According to Jain philosophy, all humans have the potential to reach sufficient levels of purity to attain omniscience.
The precise dilemma which restricts us from fully fathoming omniscience is that we almost exclusively use empirical knowledge to measure a much wider array of knowledge. (See Table #1 for an explicit breakdown of the types of knowledge.)
"Mahavira was the 24th and last Thirthankara on earth. A Thirthankara is by definition someone who gains omniscience and preaches to enlighten society with his newfound knowledge. These 60 scriptures are known as the Agams. They were transcribed by disciples who attained the knowledge from omniscient saints via an oral tradition.
"The 45 scriptures in existence have been translated and published; they are about 1,700 pages in length. The length of the 15 scriptures that have been lost is unknown.
"Different sects of Jainism reject the authority of different subcategories of the scriptures.
"In the second century A.D, the 700 page Chhakhandagamas were transcribed by Phuspadanta and Bhútabili, the 600 page Kasayapahudas were transcribed by Ghunadhara, and the 400 page Mahabandhas were transcribed by Bhûtabili. These texts claim to derive their information from omniscient saints preceding Mahavir.
10 The structure of the atom can also be found in Jain scriptures.
"Dr. L.C. Jain has proved that Jain mathematicians over a two millennia ago had known mathematical theories that were only recently discovered by modern western mathematicians.
12The properties of karmons are so subtle, that it may take modern science an extraordinarily extended period of time before finally discovering them.
"Jain philosophy believes that every living organism possesses a soul. This soul is independent from the organism's body, and unlike the organism's body, exists eternally.
"The time that transpires for karmic particles to ripen depends on the nature of the karmic particles. Similarly, the nature of the ensuing effect is also dependent on the
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