Introduction to Jainism and its Culture

SR No.: 001605
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 334
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Culture
File Size: 21 MB

Page 180

does not gain knowledge of the true form of the soul and accepting the subservience of material karmas derives joy and misery, has attachment and aversion for the consequences of karmas enters into bondage of new karmas. The sequence of mental karma to physical karma and vise versa continues ad infinitum. The Jain doctrine of karma is the doctrine of liberation of soul. It is a doctrine of endeavour. It is a not a doctrine of fatalism but that of human effort. One who evokes desire for endeavour (spiritual) can change his fate (fruits of karma). In fact, the consequences of karma are called fate and endeavour is the effort to change it. There is a wide spread misconception about the definitions of fate and endeavour. For example, a person suffers losses or gets less profit in business. He gets disturbed and works harder to gain more profits. He thinks that he is making a lot of effort. But this is not what we call endeavour in spiritual terms.
Profit or loss in business is consequences of karmas accumulated in the past. It gives joy or dejection. The consequences of karma are called fate. The resulting joy or dejection is because of faulty endeavour is cause of new bondage of karmas. It could be called right effort had he not felt joy or dejection. To win over joy and dejection and have equanimity is called right effort. Those who make extra efforts in business to get more profit are not doing right effort because their aim is wealth. Wealth comes by good fortune (fruition of accumulated merit-karmas), not by effort. To make spiritual efforts to know soul is right endeavour. To alter the karma due to which one gets or looses wealth is right endeavour. To work towards liberation of soul is right endeavour. To try to change fate or consequences of karmas is right endeavour. To win over perversions is right endeavour.
*******
163