________________
94
JAINISM: A THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY “GOD IN JAINISM"
The fixed due duration of life can be reduced by untimely death. But the fixed due duration of life can never be increased even by one moment in any way by any attempt. Under the chief influence of deluding karma (mohanīya-karma), life-quantum of the immediate next birth is bound in the present birth. Therefore, the series of successive birth and consequently the wandering in the trans migratory existence continue so long as soul is under the influence of the deluding karma, and because of its (soul's) association with karma, the soul transmigrate from birth to birth in the world.
Once we are convinced of the existence of soul and karma nothing is required to convince us of the existence of life after death.
Rebirth is very closely associated with the karma and jīva. The karma of past life is responsible for the present life. Similarly, karma of the present life will be responsible for the future life."
The accretion (growth or increase by accumulation) of karma, as karmic particles of āyușya (age determining) karma enter the soul, which are responsible in various ways for determining the state of existence in succeeding life, the length of life and status of the individual in all its different lives.
Bhagavāna Mahāvīra said that the passions like krodha (anger), māna (pride), māya (deceit) and lobha (greed) are the root cause of the cycle of birth and death."2
In Bhagavadgītā, we get an analogical description about birth and the chain of birth. As a man takes out the old clothes and wears the new one, similarly the soul casts away the worn out body
(ii) Muni Shri Nyāyavijayaji, "Jaina Philosophy and Religion”, P-287 "Jaina Philosophy and Religion P-493, Ācārānga, 1.2.6 12 Daśavaikālika, 8.39
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org