Bhagvana Mahavira

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 91

Relevance of the Jaina Religion
when we do not forget the fact that the karma is also determined by puruşărtha. When we do not truly evaluate the efficacy of puruşartha, we extol fate or the power of destiny. In fact, puruşartha is capable of changing fate-the effects of
karma.
This doctrine of karma sets man free from the mentality of pessimism, passivity and dependence on others. If the present puruṣārtha of man were righteous, the effects of past malevolent karma can be weakened or transformed into those of benevolent karma, and thereby one can tread the lightened path instead of groping in darkness. On the other hand, inactivity born of indolence or mentality of dependence on others deprives man of the opportunity of enjoying future benefits and its achievements. It is derogatory on the part of man to be despondent. Problems melt away if man takes recourse to right puruṣārtha. He is not totally under the domination of karma. Karma is only an instrumental cause of man's helplessness. An instrumental cause, no doubt, shows its effect, but after all it is only an instrumental cause, and not an efficient cause. An awakened man can obliterate the dominance of karma which only exists as an instrumental cause.
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People who do not understand the principle of changeability of karma begin to entertain doubts about the very doctrine of karma, when the social set-up changes. Karma is an internal condition of man. External conditions and instrumental causes may bring about a right change in the operation of karma, but they cannot obliterate its existence altogether. It is man's internal capacity of experiencing pleasure or pain which gives a chance to the instrumental causes to play their role and produce the feelings of pleasure or pain. Individual problems cannot be solved by simply changing external conditions and instrumental causes of pleasure and pain. They can be solved only on the basis of the individual's karma and the conditions which effect karma.