Essence of Jainism

SR No.: 001537
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sukhlal Sanghavi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1988
Total Pages: 228
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Religion
File Size: 12 MB

Page 179

Karma element
155
according to the belief of the Jaina thinkers Karma results both in life and material forms; they know this as Bhava and drovya Karma.
This whole thought-process with regard to Karma definitely belongs to that old time, when there existed the maximum exchange of thought amongst the thinkers on karmı. Wo cannot precisely judge how much ancient this time is. But there is considerable depth, mutual co-relation and an extraordinary depiction of the subtlest thoughts in it. If we take all this into consideration, we must concede that the typical lore of Karma of the Jain philosophy was firmly established in India before the days of Bhagavān Pārsvanātha. Those who knew this Šāstra, were known as Ka Šāstraveitā--knowers of the science of Karma and its philosophy. The same became renowned as Agrayaniya Pūrva and karma pramā. dapūrva. Historically, Pūrva means the lores and Scriptures that have traditionally come down from the time before Bhagavān Mahāvira. These “Pūrva' were, undoubtedly renowned in one form or another from the times earlier than Bhagavān Pārsvanātha. On one side the Jain thinkers concentrated their attention on the thinking of Karma, while on the other, Samkhya-Yoga concentrated greater attention on the path of meditation. In course of time, Tathāgata Buddha iaid greater stress on meditation. However, all' preserved their thinking on Karma that they had duly inherited. That is the reason why even though the Jain philosophy of Karma holds an unrivalled place from the point of view of subtlety and expanse, it is more or less similar to the thinking of SankhyaYoga, Buddhist philosophy etc. Basically also the same stream of thought persists and it deserves to be studied by the students of Karmaśāstra.
Belief of Jain and other philosophies regarding išvara as the creator of the Universe.
Karmavāda is of the opinion that in the happiness and sorrow, prosperity and adversity, high and low etc. that we find in society, we have Karma as a cause along with the other causes known as: tim, nature, effort etc. But the Jain philosophy, dominated by: