Science & Spirituality

My interests in physics and Jain philosophy have led me to explore questions about matter, consciousness and the nature of reality. Through books, articles and lectures, I reflect on the dialogue between modern science and the Jain tradition.

This page brings together that work and the organizations through which I support scholarship, education and discussion.

Organizations

Secretary and Trustee

Shri Ganesh Varni Digambar Jain Sansthan, Varanasi.
Website: www.varnisansthan.org

An institution dedicated to publishing books and supporting research on Jain philosophy, with the participation of renowned Jain scholars. It was established as Shri Ganesh Varni Granthmala in 1947 and then converted to Ganesh Varni Sansthan in 1972 by the eminent scholar Pandit Phool Chandra Shastri (biography).

Chairman, Siddhantacharya Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri Foundation, Roorkee

An institution that publishes work on Jainism and its relationship with other philosophies. It also organizes lectures and seminars exploring science and the spiritual quest.

Chairman, NAMAN – A Foundation for Children, Roorkee

A foundation working for the education and welfare of children in Roorkee.

Books, Articles & Lectures

Books

Satkhandagam – Dhavala Tika

Vol. 2 and 5, Editor – A.K. Jain, in progress.

Articles

1. A.K. Jain, “Scientific Content in the exploration of the Spiritual World in the Jain Tradition”, in Science and Beyond: Cosmology, Consciousness and Technology in the Indic Traditions (Editors – S. Menon, B.V. Sreekantan, A. Sinha, P. Clayton, R. Narsimha, pp. 86–97), National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India, 2004.
2. A.K. Jain, “Quantum Interpretation of Anekant and Syadvad”, in the book on Applications of Anekantvad (Editors – Shugan Jain and Preeti Rani Jain), MLBD and ISJS, 2025.
3. A.K. Jain, “Challenges in Logical Understanding of Reincarnation in the Framework of Jain Karma Theory”, in the book on Reincarnation (Editor – Dr. Anil Kumar Jain), Jain Academy of Scholars, Ahmedabad, 2025.

Selected talks and lectures

1. A.K. Jain, Invited Talk on “A Quantitative Quantum framework for the Jain Karma Theory”, at the workshop on Satkhandagam Tika by Ganini Gyanmati Mataji, held at Ayodhya, Feb 2–4, 2026.
2. A.K. Jain, Keynote Address at the “Two Days International Symposium on the Academic Contributions of Prof. P.S. Jaini and Pandit D.K. Bhore”, at the Gurudev Samantbhadra Centre for Jainism, Karanja Gurukul, Maharashtra, 28–29 December 2024.
3. A.K. Jain, Invited talk on “Journey of science from visible to invisible – Birth of quantum world and its implications on Jain principles of Karma Siddhanta” at the National Prakrit Symposium held by B.L. Institute of Indology, Delhi, during 25–27 October 2024.
4. A.K. Jain, Invited talk on “Quantum Mechanics and Karmic Mechanics” at the National Seminar on “Jain Philosophy and Modern Science”, held by Savitri Bai Phule Pune University and Samantbhadra Shodhpeeth, Karanja, at Pune, 20–21 July 2024.
5. A.K. Jain, Invited talk on “Quantum Nature of Syadvad” at the Golden Jubilee Conference of Ganesh Varni Sansthan on The Influence of Shramanic Traditions on Indian Culture (In the context of history, languages, architecture, philosophy, and science), Ganesh Varni Sansthan, Varanasi, 29–31 October 2022.
6. A.K. Jain, Online talk on “Research in Jainism – Past, Present and Future”, at the Jain Academy of Sciences, Ahmedabad, July 2021.
7. A.K. Jain, Invited colloquium on “Reality and Space-Time in Modern Science and Ancient Indian Wisdom” at Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 21 May 2018.
8. A.K. Jain, Set of Invited lectures on “Matter, Atom and Space time in Modern Science and the Jain Traditions” at the Workshop on “Modern Physics, Reality and Ancient Indian Wisdom”, held by National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 6–12 May 2018.
9. A.K. Jain, Invited talk on “Scientific Content in the exploration of the Spiritual World in the Jain Tradition” at International Conference on Science and Beyond, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 8–11 Jan. 2003.