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Gotra Karma (Status Determining Karma) This Karma determines whether the living being will be born in a restrained and respected family or otherwise. (It is divided into two categories viz., (a) High (Uchcha) status Karma and (b) Low (Neech) Status Karma, which are further divided into eight subcategories each. Some scholars states that this karma is not simply with mundane aspects of birth environment, but rather with whether that environment is more or less conducive to the pursuit of the spiritual life.
• High Status (Uchcha Gotra) Karma
• Low Status (Neech Gotra) Karma High Status (Uchcha Gotra) Karma It involves a high and respectful status in respect to (1) family; (ii) community (iii) learning (iv) power (v) profit (vi) penance (vii) looks and (viii) luxury. These eight form its subdivisions. This Karma results from non-exhibition of and non-exultation in one's qualities, knowledge, wealth and other attainments and admiring such attributes of others. Low Status (Neech Gotra) Karma It results in the opposite equipment and attainments like low and not respectable family, connections etc., and are earned by exhibition and exultation in one's knowledge, wealth etc. and deprecating such qualities in others. Lower status determining Karma causes us to be low and not respected in society. Higher status determining Karma causes us to be high and well respected in society. Disrespecting people, being egoistic, proud, indulging in self-aggrandizement and making fun of others acquire lower status determining Karma. Higher status determining Karma is acquired by having devotion and faith in the Jain congregation, not looking down upon anyone, being free from pride, respecting and honoring all, and treating everyone with love. Being respectful towards those who have status and also towards those who do not have status can shed status determining Karma. Once our status determining Karma is shed completely, our souls become stable, not too heavy and not too light state (Aguru-laghu). This type of concept fosters socially responsible behavior by placing all human actions within a context of understandable and inevitable consequences. Äyushya Karma (Life Span Determining Karma) This Bondage, which keeps the soul in the body and determines the time (life span) for which it will remain there, is called the Life Span or Ayu Karma. In other words, a being's body remains alive for the quantum of life determined by this Karma and dies when this Karma is exhausted. With fixing of the coming lifespan, all the other factors of embodiment fall into place as it were, in an appropriate manner. This karma dose not precisely determine the effects of Näm-Karma, Gotra-karma, and Vedaniya-karma, but it establishes a frame work or set of limitations within which these can operate. The age determining Karma for the next life is decided only once in each lifetime; specifically when two thirds of our current life has passed. If it is not decided during the first two thirds then it is decided during two thirds of the remaining time. If it is still not decided, then again at the two thirds of the remaining time and so on and so forth or at the time of death. The implications of such a doctrine on the level of religious practice are evident; by earnestly adhering to the path of proper conduct all the time, we can hope to influence the determination of span and character of next life. Age determining Karma will not be acquired if the soul is going to be liberated in the current life. Age determining Karma may be shortened but it cannot be prolonged. The age determining Karma are of two types.
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE - 2
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