$JES 302 Jain Philosophy Level 3 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 96

THEORY OF KARMA AND REINCARNATION
Chapter 21 - Theory of Karma and Reincarnation
We have seen that our comfortable or uncomfortable situations lie in the activities undertaken by us during this life or earlier lives. Thus, this assumes a theory of rebirth. It is the law of nature that we reap what we sow. However, this reaping does not necessarily occur in the same life. The law, moreover, is not restricted to physical activities. It applies to our persisting tendencies and instincts as well, even though they may not be translated into action. Whatever thoughts we may relish, whether in the midst of mountains or within a remote cave, they will have their consequences. No one can escape these consequences. It is not possible to deceive nature. The consequences have to be borne sooner or later, and no one is immune. This law of Karma as a spiritual science is not different from the law of cause and effect, or that of action and reaction, as from physical sciences. In the spiritual field, the scope of this Karma law is extended to the realm of emotions and feelings as well.
This law of Karma and theory of rebirth should not be brushed aside as a fancy of spiritual thinkers. In fact, recent psychological research bears testimony to their validity. Modern psychologists have been increasingly moving to accept it. Dr. Alexander Cannon, during his experiments of age regression observed that the causes of his patients' phobias lay in earlier lives. The reasons for such ailments in many cases could be traced back, to the Roman period. After surveying the results of 1382 reincarnation sittings, as he calls them, he compiled a book entitled 'The Power Within'. The following is a quote from the book.
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"For years the theory of reincarnation was a nightmare to me and I did my best to disprove it but I have to admit that there is such a thing as reincarnation. It is therefore only right and proper that I should include this study as a branch of psychology, as my text bears witness to the great benefit many have received psychologically from discovering hidden complexes and fears, which undoubtedly have been brought over from past lives.
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This study explains the scales of justice in a very broad way showing how a person appears to suffer in this life as a result of something he has done in a past life through this law of action and reaction known in the East as Karma. A person cannot see why he suffers one disaster after another in this life, yet reincarnation may reveal atrocities committed by him in lives gone by."
We can consider ourselves fortunate that we can obtain, as part of our heritage, what science has only now been revealing. Most of us have in the background of our minds the consequences of what we are now doing. That helps us in restraining our emotions and tolerating adversity. We should not react violently even when hurt physically or otherwise. It is worthwhile to examine the impact of this theory of Karma for the broad spectrum of society.
If everyone knew that one day, he is surely going to bear the consequences of whatever he does or thinks, no one would dare to indulge in any activity that would hurt others. All conflicts and wars, disputes and violence, enmity and vengeance, parochialism and selfishness, would come to an end. If one ponders rightly, he can realize that hatred and jealousy may or may not hurt the person against whom they are aimed at, but they surely will hurt him; since his
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JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I