________________
Chapter 10: Guru's Explanation about the Soul being Kartä
140 Explanation & Discussion:
The pupil had argued that God might be prompting the souls to behave in a way that would lead to Karma. Most religious philosophies conceive of God as the creator, regulator, or motivator and as a dispenser of justice. People like to believe in such a concept, because they feel that if they keep Him pleased, God would provide for them, and make them happy and comfortable. Moreover, if they remain devoted to Him, the kind and merciful God would also forgive their faults.
The psychologists believe that the concept of a protective God has arisen from childhood. Children remain scared of unknown situations, and like to rely upon their parents or other elders to protect them. Similarly many people like to believe in God who can protect them from evils. Moreover, as children are brought into this world by the interaction of parents, people tend to think of a creator, who must be producing the universe and everything else within it.
If one thinks deeply, it would be easy to see that there is no basis for the concept of creation or a Creator. The Guru therefore states that there is nothing like God as the creator or the prompter. It is, however, perfectly reasonable to conceive of Godhood that connotes dignity and greatness born of total purity. This state denotes perfection. Such perfect purity is therefore equivalent to Godhood. That purity lies latent in every soul and one should endeavor to manifest the same.
Such a state is beyond all desires and aspirations. Now if God is considered the Creator, He must have the desire to create. Such desiring does not befit those who have attained perfection. As such, by being the Creator, God stands to lose. Instead of His dignity being elevated, it would actually be lowered. It is therefore stated that by treating Him as the Creator, God would be subject to impurity. Moreover, if God is conceived of as the prompter, why would He prompt one person to undertake wholesome Karma and another to undertake unwholesome one?
Jain Education Intemnational
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
