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PHILOSOPHY
B13 - Anekäntaväda III - Five Samaväya or Causal Factors
During the action or activity period one should reflect on:
One's own effort for the success (Determination, Free will, Self-effort) At the conclusion of an activity or action one should reflect on: If the result is positive -
The success was due to the help from others (external Nimitta or circumstances) If the result is negative -
The failure was due to my past karma (internal Nimitta), the failure was predestined or, my effort
was not adequate Person needs Freewill, Determination, and Effort to progress from Illusionary/Ignorant state (1st Gunasthäna) to Monkhood state (6th Gunasthäna). Person cannot spiritually progress further without dissolving his/her ego.
To the person with an ego, all events that occur in the universe seems predestined. This does not mean that events are predestined in reality (all five causes are equally present). We may continuously change two of the five causes: Purushärtha and Nimitta (Self Effort or Free Will, Karma and External situation)
Hence, the probability of all events being predetermined is very low. During an ignorance state, a person is controlled by surroundings (Nimitta).
Hence on the path of spiritual progress, the person should be surrounded by the proper environment. As spiritual progress occurs, the effect of external causes reduces, and the power of soul
increases. Karma philosophy applies to ourselves, Compassion applies to all. 04 Summary
We have now seen the importance of the five causal factors. All five are useful in their own places. All contribute to the production of an effect. We should not give exclusive importance to any one of them, rejecting all others or relegating them to an utterly insignificant place. The believers in the doctrine of time are under the sway of illusion, if they accept time while excluding the other factors without properly evaluating their contribution. This view is the right view, which accords proper placement to all the causal factors. Contrary to it, the wrong view is that, which regards anyone of them as the sole cause, neglecting the rest. Jainism puts most emphasis on Purushärtha (to rely a great deal on one's own efforts and initiatives) since it is the only one in our control and can make an impact on other Samaväya in future. No progress can be made if one depends only upon fate or Karma. Individual effort (Purushärtha) can help in shedding Karma and in purifying one's consciousness. Believing in these five causes is the beginning of the theory of multiplicity of views (multifaceted truth or Anekantaväda).
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015
