Dr. N.L. Kachhara
It is a pleasure to write about this book, entitled Living System in Jainism: A Scientific Study by Dr. Narayan Lal Kachhara. The book is one of the sincere attempts to interlock the two eras: one the ancient and other the modern, one with enormous faith and other with speculation, one with super-empirical and other with empirical evidence. Einstein once said that religion without science is lame and science without religion in blind. Dr. Kachhara's effort is like eliminating the lameness and blindness of this era by coordinating Jain religion and philosophy with science. Many subtle and complicated issues related to physics, chemistry, and cognitive science found in Jainism is explained with correspondence to modern scientific terms. This of course, is the result of scholarly and hard devotional work. This book will from a base for further scientific studies in Jainism.
For the student and learner of science and Jain Philosophy it is a readable text and the author has done it very well. I recommend this book to the scholarly world.
Samani Dr. Chaitanya Prajna
(Ex-Executive Director of BMIRC, JVBI)
Professor, Department of Jainology and Comparative Religion & Philosophy
Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Ladnun - 341306
This book, an excellent review of existing knowledge on living systems in Jainism, has been brought out against the backdrop of vast experience of author on the religion. It is an inspiring and practical book intended for researchers and for those who are looking into mysteries of life and relevance of our existence on the earth and other planets. Thus, this thought provoking book is an excellent resource to students, educators and experts on the subjects.
In this ambitious work, Dr. Kachhara presents a broad analysis of living systems in Jainism and comparing it with other philosophies. The author supplies an in-depth analysis of scientific aspects of some of the most intangible elements of the human existence. This is the best single place where one can begin further research on the subject. Author gets into the heart of the principles and practices, and few words are needed to describe this book as the most authoritative in describing the relationship between soul and body in human and other animals.
Soul is centre place of all living beings and is non-corporeal. Current science has not been able to explore it and has largely remained philosophical. Author has tried to answers some of the questions related to it in a scientific way. The organization of the book allows the reader to easily follow the evolution of living systems on the planet earth. The book is divided into 14 chapters that reflect scientific approach to Jainism. Starting with the comparative view on soul and consciousness in various philosophical systems, reader is taken for a journey through various facets and intricacies of karma, evolution of life and mind, biological intelligence, knowledge and many more. I am particularly fascinated on 3rd chapter related to 'Doctrine of Karma' and on chapter 8 related to 'Philosophy of Mind'. Each chapter is completed by a bibliography at the end which will be great help to researchers.
I will conclude with that those who want a thorough review on the subject, this book is second to none and expect from author many more such contribution in future.
Dr. Pratap Sanchetee, MD, DM
Consultant Neurologist, Sanchetee Neurology Research Institute, Jodhpur
This book provides an extensive review of living systems in Jainism in the modern scientific context. This is a very original piece of work and covers several dimensions of living systems like consciousness, soul, karma theory, psychological aspects, knowledge, intelligence, emotions, quantum physics, and others. I feel that this is the first serious attempt to study the possible interconnection between karma and the soul diagrammatically in an easily understandable language. The scientific spirit behind this approach is a breakthrough in the better understanding of the dualism of the soul and matter in the most systematic way. The description of forty-seven characteristics of the soul in Jainism on one hand and the simultaneous description of consciousness touching the latest developments in the field, including those of quantum physics, neurophysiology, psychology and the finer structure of neurons, will provide new insights to the world for further exploration of the concept of soul in Jainism and in modern science. I wish that all intellectuals working in the multidisciplinary fields of soul, body, consciousness, biology, psychology, quantum physics, and religion should read this book and take the search to understand living systems in the right direction.
Dr. Surendra Singh Pokharna
Former Scientist, Indian Space Research Organization, Ahmedabad
