________________
Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
noble. The animals in this category may also be found in beyondhuman region. Thus, only the ford-builders have timely death. There is a version to support this purport. For other noble personages, even the TSB indicates the possibility of dual character of their death.
7.
The untimely death is defined as the premature realisation of earlier-bound life-span karma within an Antarmuturta due to many causes. Thus, the bonded longer life-span is reduced. It is said that this bond is comparatively loose so as to be prematurely realised. The austerities and meditation are the means for this process. This has been illustrated by many examples- (i) the early digestion of foods by digestive powders (ii) early ripening of fruits as indicated earlier (iii) early drying of stretched wet cloth in comparison to the unstretced one and (iv) solution of mathematical problems through quicker methods or now computers.
In contrast, the timely death is the mature realisation of the above type of karma whose karmic bond is closely tight not to be loose open even by the strongest agents or factors. This is a natural death. The canons maintain that the premature realisation of life-span karma or death may occur due to the causes mentioned in 2.53.5 above along with (i) over-sex (ii)sudden haemorrhage (iii) spell of demigods (iv) extreme sorrow or fear (v) respiratory obstruction (vi) over-meditation and (vii) fall from tree or mountains. The current causes of death like (i) accident due to transport mediums (ii) acute dehydration and diseases (iii) failure of body parts like heart, kidney etc. and (iv) wars, bombs, chemicals and others may also be included in the list.
8. It is postulated that the currrent life-span is bonded loosely or tightly during the earlier birth at 2/3 life-span spent or an Antermuhurta life-span remaining. It could be increased or decreased during the bonding periods. The current life-span being enjoyed cannot be increased or death cannot be delayed. However, there is no such rule regarding the reduction in life-span. It may occur in earlier birth or even during this birth also depending upon the factors available which generally serve two functiona- (a) reduction in karmic contents and (b) reduction in durational contents. If there is durational reduction or destruction, the life-span will be reduced. The unalterable bonding, however, does not lead to the reduction process.
9 The soul is said to be immortal. There is no question of its death. Hence, the death refers only to the worldly and embodied living being. It is a phenomenon of the real world rather than the idel state. The soul and body are related as the cause and the caused.
There can be no death until the life-span karma is completely realised or its variforms are dripped out of the body completely. In
188
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
