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Chapter VII KARMA
The doctrine of karma is one of the most significant tenets of Indian thought. It has profoundly influenced the life of the people in India. Every event in the life of an individual occurs due to the karmas accumulated in his previous births.
According to Jainism, karma is an aggregate of material particles, very fine and imperceptible to the senses. These material particles, through the activities of body, mind and speech get into the soul and are tied to it according to the modifications of the soul consisting of passions. Thus the Karma leads the soul to worldly bondage. As long as it is associated with karma, the soul can never be liberated.
The most important achievement of Lord Mahāvīra in the spiritual field was the establishment of karma in place of the creator God. He stressed the importance of self-efforts and purity of conduct in place of devotion to God. He said :
"सुचिण्णा कम्मा सुचिण्णफला भवंति ।
दुचिण्णा कम्मा दुचिण्णफला भवंति ॥" i. e., auspicious karmas bring beneficial results and evil karmas bring harmful results.
( Aupa. Sū. 56 )
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