Atma Darshan Aur Vigyan Ki Drushti Me - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Atma Darshan aur Vigyan ki Drushti me" by Ashok Kumar Saxena, focusing on its content and arguments:

Book Title: Atma Darshan aur Vigyan ki Drushti me (The Vision of the Soul in the Perspective of Philosophy and Science) Author: Ashok Kumar Saxena Publisher: Z_Jain_Divakar_Smruti_Granth_012021.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/210224/1

This text, presented as part of the Shri Jain Divakar Smriti Granth, explores the concept of the soul ("Atma") from both philosophical and scientific viewpoints, aiming to demonstrate a convergence of these perspectives. The author, Ashok Kumar Saxena, a senior teacher and scholar of life sciences, compiles insights from various traditions and modern research.

Core Argument: The central thesis of the article is that both ancient philosophies and modern science are increasingly aligning on the existence and nature of the soul. While classical philosophical traditions have long affirmed the soul's existence, contemporary scientific discoveries and theories are, according to the author, beginning to corroborate these ancient beliefs.

Key Themes and Arguments:

Universal Acceptance of the Soul: The article begins by asserting that the existence of the soul within the human body is accepted by all major religious and philosophical traditions, including the Vedas, Upanishads, Gita, Manusmriti, Buddha's Dhammapada, and Lord Mahavir's Agamas. It notes that Western philosophy, particularly figures like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates, also supported the soul's immortal existence and the concept of reincarnation.
Science's Evolving View: Saxena argues that even scientific thought is moving away from pure materialism. He suggests that science is becoming more "soul-centric" ("atmavadi") over time, with recent decades seeing materialistic theories based on the idea of a soul. The universe, he posits, appears closer to a "thought" than a mere "machine."
The Nature of the Soul (Atma Tattva):
- Universality and Individuality: The text touches upon the philosophical concept of "Tat Tvam Asi" (You are That), implying the soul's presence in everyone. It raises the question of whether there is one universal soul pervading all beings or if each soul is distinct. The author acknowledges that even the existence of God is not universally agreed upon, making definitive statements about the oneness of the soul challenging.
- Path to Knowledge: Referencing religious scriptures, the author states that understanding the soul requires practices of listening (shravana), contemplation (manana), and deep meditation (nididhyasana). This is paralleled with Lord Mahavir's path of Right Faith (Samyak Darshan), Right Knowledge (Samyak Gyan), and Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra).
- Self-Mastery: The article highlights the Upanishadic concept of "Atmahano Janah" (those who kill their soul) and the Jain teaching that one must become "Atmavana" (possessing a soul) and "Atmājayī" (self-conqueror). True self-mastery, it emphasizes, cannot be achieved through attachment to possessions (parigraha).
- Jain Perspective on the Soul: Jain philosophy classifies the soul into three types: Bahiratama (outward-focused soul), Antaratma (inward-focused soul), and Paramatma (supreme soul). Paramatma is further divided into Arhats (those with omniscience while embodied) and Siddhas (liberated souls in their pure, knowledge-bound form). The pure soul is described as formless, odorless, tasteless, unmanifest, and devoid of speech, attachment, body, and worldly dependencies.
Comparative Religious Perspectives:
- Gita: Krishna's teachings to Arjuna on the battlefield are cited, emphasizing the soul's eternal, uncreated, and unchanging nature, distinct from the perishable body.
- Buddhism: The Dhammapada is quoted, highlighting the importance of protecting one's soul and using it for self-guidance before instructing others. The text notes that while Buddhism doesn't posit an eternal soul like Jainism or Hinduism, it attributes the functions of the soul to "mind-consciousness" (man-chitta-vijnana), which is mutable and influenced by actions. It also emphasizes the Buddha's "Middle Path," avoiding the extremes of the soul being identical to or separate from the body.
Western Philosophical Views:
- Plato's idea of immortal and perishable souls is mentioned.
- Aristotle's analogy of the soul and body to wax and a candle is presented.
- Sufi saint Rumi's statement about multiple rebirths is included.
- Edwin Arnold's poetic description of the soul's eternality ("The soul is unborn and immortal...") is quoted to illustrate the Western philosophical acceptance of soul's immortality.
Scientific Evidence and Theories:
- Subtle Energy and Particles: Modern science's understanding of the universe as composed of subtle waves containing "life force," "energy," and "thought" is presented. The soul is theorized to be a specific manifestation of these elements.
- The Subtle Body: The soul's embodied form is referred to as the "subtle body" (sukshma sharir), potentially composed of neutrinos. These particles are described as invisible, massless, and traveling at the speed of light, capable of penetrating matter and being transformed.
- Psychic Phenomena: Parapsychological concepts like the ability of the subtle body to manifest or dissolve anywhere, mediumship (seances), telepathy, extrasensory perception, and psychokinesis are cited as evidence supporting the soul's existence.
- Scientific Research: The article references experiments by:
  - Dr. Penfield (Canada) on the persistent nature of the subtle body in the brain.
  - Professor William Crookes (London) on research into the afterlife and reincarnation.
  - Dr. Myers, Fack Podmore, Alfred Wallace, Prof. Oxakff, and Richard Hodgson, who established the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) in England in 1885 to scientifically investigate spiritualism.
  - Dr. Malye and Jeste of The Hague, who invented the "Dyna Mystograph" to communicate with spirits without a medium.
  - Arthur A. Bell (California) on the dependence of life functions on mental states and the subtle body's detachment upon energy depletion.
  - B. B. Vinnicott and Sir Crookes, who reportedly captured photographs of departed souls.
  - Physical scientist Erwin Schrödinger's philosophical reflections on the "other" and the soul, linking them to Vedanta.
  - Anatomist Sir Charles Sherrington's view that mental phenomena (thoughts, emotions) are beyond quantifiable energy and matter.
  - Nobel laureate physicist E.P. Wigner's statement that no measurement is complete until it enters consciousness, suggesting a mystery at the final stage of observation.
  - Albert Einstein's feeling of unity with all living things, transcending the concept of individual beginnings and endings.
  - Hinshelwood's argument that denying the reality of the inner world is akin to denying existence itself.
  - Physicist John von Neumann's inclusion of consciousness in quantum mechanics, suggesting interaction with consciousness is necessary to resolve wave function collapse.
  - Yogic practices like Kriya Yoga, Surat Shabd Yoga, and Transcendental Meditation as experiences of supra-mental, extrasensory, or spiritual awakening.
  - Lobshang Rampa's invention of a device to diagnose mental states by observing the human aura.
  - Hypnotism's success in accessing past-life memories.
  - Rudolf Steiner and P.D. Ouspensky as visionary thinkers in the study of the soul.
  - Dr. Stevenson's research in India on reincarnation.
  - Experiments with the "Wilson Cloud Chamber" suggesting post-mortem existence.
  - Carl Jung's concept of a fourth dimension in our reality.
  - Studies by Stanislav Grof, John Halifex Grof, and Raymond Moody documenting cases of individuals declared dead but later revived, affirming the soul's existence.
  - Psychologist Dr. Nelson Walt's assertion of a strong self-consciousness or "life-force" within humans.
  - Henbrick's research indicating higher extrasensory abilities in women.
  - Electron expert Mayon Kiliyan's conclusion about the subtle body being made of faster-moving electrons, capable of independent movement.
  - Dr. Robert Baker's department in New York for the study of psychic phenomena.
  - Professor Leonid Vasiliev's telepathic experiments demonstrating the existence of a subtle body beyond the physical.
- Unanswered Questions: The article acknowledges that the nature of the soul and vital force remains an enigma for scientists, who are yet to fully understand the relationship between the brain and the soul. Physicist Mikhail Polanyi's view that the universe operates on principles unknown to modern science is cited.
Conclusion: The author concludes that while modern science is progressing, understanding the intricate interplay of matter, life, and soul may take millennia. He suggests that faith in the complementary nature of the individual soul and the Supreme Soul is essential for this ambitious endeavor. The article implicitly suggests that the scientific community is still far from grasping the true nature of the soul, with the "destination" of this understanding still distant.

In essence, "Atma Darshan aur Vigyan ki Drushti me" is an extensive attempt to bridge the gap between traditional spiritual understanding of the soul and the evolving landscape of scientific inquiry, presenting a strong case for the empirical and philosophical validation of the soul's existence across diverse disciplines.