Jain Science and Spirituality
by Medhavi Jain | 2020 | 61,419 words
This essay studies the elements of Jainism and investigates how Jain science and philosophy can give the world answers to through science and spirituality. Instead of interpreting it as a confined, strict philosophy, it is shown that Jainism represents a path towards self-awakening through self-improvement....
2.1. Mind And Body (Introduction)
Mind can either be one’s best friend or one’s biggest enemy. It is, how one deals with it.
Whether it’s about accomplishment of a certain goal or about controlling one’s immense desires, one is suggested to win over the mind. Since ages man has wandered to know what exactly mind is and how does it work? From time to time, different philosophers and scientists, from around the globe, have tried to explain it and its workings however the search still goes on.
Some intellectuals have termed it as the sixth sense present in one’s body in abstract form and others have termed it as the soul itself.
‘The mind is a set of cognitive faculties including consciousness, perception, thinking, judgment, and memory. It is usually defined as the faculty of an entity's reasoning and thoughts. It holds the power of imagination, recognition, and appreciation, and is responsible for processing feelings and emotions, resulting in attitudes and actions.’[1]
Today we hear the trio of the words ‘mind, body and soul’ in spa, meditation retreats and at many other places. We are searching for a solution that can heal all these so that a balance can be attained, not only in our personal lives, but also universally. Balance that transforms us towards happiness and peace so that we will be able to give something better to our future generations. As Dr.
Brian L. Weiss puts it,
Aan alignment of adoration from the mind to cherish from the heart. At that point we are in congruity, in parity’.[2]
Whether or not we believe in the existence of soul but almost all of us have felt that we have capabilities to feel and experience much beyond.
‘There are limitless angles to the sun of cognizance. Of them five have been acquired by us, in type of five senses. In our kendras or psychic centres there is light, however it is disguised by a curtain which keeps the light from being emitted out.’[3]
In Jain philosophy these curtains are named as Gyanavarniya karma (knowledge obscuring) and Darshanavarniya karma (perception obscuring).
‘As we move the curtain and come out, the light in our mystic centres starts to transmit. When the procedure of advancement starts, it can't be halted. It continues to advance beyond. In the first place, we open just a window, with the progression of time we open an entryway that prompts numerous different entryways waiting for us to open them. While the senses are little windows, the mind is a major entryway.’[4]
For a knowledge seeker the mere thought of unlocking the treasure of hidden capabilities one holds within, fills one with immense peace. One gets mesmerised at the opportunities one may have.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind retrieved on14/03/2017 @ 6 pm
[2]:
Dr. Weiss L. Brian. Through Time Into Healing (TTIH). Piatkus. London. 2009 pp.149
[3]:
[4]:
Ibid. pp.106