Jainism a Theistic Philosophy

SR No.: 006918
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Krishna A Gosavi
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2012
Total Pages: 358
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 6 MB

Page 271

JAINA VIEW OF KARMA COMPARED WITH ......
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transmigration of souls becomes a proven fact, and through it their continuity and immortality is established beyond doubt. Moreover, it provides a scientific and rational explanation for the diverse phenomena.**
To Jainas in fact, the science of karma is the real science of spirituality, in so far as it tries to unfold the real nature of spirit or self. Unlike the Brahmanical, Vedic philosophy, notion that karma is subservient to God and hence what is more important is not karma but compassion of God. For Jainas freedom from karma is uncompromising condition for salvation. What is most significance thing to note here is the reason behind the Jainas putting greater emphasis on doctrine of karma and working out a science of karma in greater details than what has been done by other systems of Indian philosophy? The chief reason is rejection of belief in God's grace as well as God regarded as dispenser of fruits of action.45
Jainism does not preach that there is any special power ruling over the destinies of men from behind or above. On the contrary, it teaches that every individual works out his own destiny by his own mental or physical exertions that bring to him agreeable or disagreeable experiences. Thus the entire emphasis is to thwart and annihilate the force of the karma “and this way to effect a gradual spiritual evolution leading to the ultimate goal, the very Godhood, whence there is no return to the saṁsāra."
However Šramanic school of Jainism and Buddhism as well as Vedic school of Nyāya-Vaišeșikas and Sāmkhya-Yoga stick to the ideal of Mokșa. They recognize karma to be the cause of bondage and advocate freedom from karma as means to salvation. The Jainas combine the atomism of Nyāya-Vaišeșikas with the real
**Dr. Hemant Shah, “Jain Theism”, 1997, P-17, Chatterjee and Datta,
P-15 and Dr. J.P. Jain, “Religion and culture of Jains", P- 40 Dr. Hemant Shah, "Jain Theism", 1997, P-17, Chatterjee and Datta, P-15 and Dr. J.P. Jain, “Religion and culture of Jains", P-18 40Dr. Hiralal Jain, Article, “What is Jainism”, P12-13