Dr. N.L. Kachhara
The active universe is comprised of two basic components, (1) matter and energy and (2) jiva, the living substance. The state of the universe is jointly determined by these two components. The inanimate component is bigger than the animate component. The 73 percent of the inanimate component is recognized as dark energy by scientists and not much is known about it. According to Jain philosophy this part of inanimate energy must comprise of varganas which are clusters of paramanus, some of them are in bonded state and others are unbounded. The bonding between paramanus is an electrical activity and therefore varganas are not supposed to contribute to disorder in the system.
The luminous matter, made up of one specific type of vargana, ultimately consists of paramanus, whose total energy comprises of electric energy and thermal energy (including kinetic energy of motion). The paramanu undergoes self-transformation and one mode of energy may change into another mode spontaneously. The second law of thermodynamics applies to thermal processes of gross matter that increases entropy in the universe. This is supposed to increase disorder. However the processes taking place in electrical mode are seen to increase order in the system (like ordering of molecular magnets). There remains a possibility of change of matter from thermal mode to electrical mode in some part of the universe producing order from disorder.
Organisms are systems that produce order from disorder. The order and organization seen in cells is not possible in non-living systems and it is surely a result of intelligence contained by the soul. The soul which proceeds from a highly disordered state to a perfectly ordered state also produces order in the body it occupies. It is because of the soul that the processes in the body are highly efficient minimizing entropy production in the environment. In most part of the universe organisms do not disturb the order; there are only a few regions where human beings resort to activities that increase disorder.
So, we have systems producing order from disorder and disorder from order in the universe. The galaxies, star systems, cells, organisms, etc. are examples of beautiful order in the universe. The two components, living and non-living, together give a steady and stable universe according to Jain philosophy and there is no fear of heat death or end of the universe.
