________________
158
Essence of Jainism
of Isvara. But when the Jiva throws away all its obstructions, all its powers shine out to the full. What could then be the disparity between the Jiva and Igvara ? Even when the cause of this disparity, which is the super imposed Karma, is removed, if disparity were to continue, what is the sense of liberation ? The rule of disparity is limited only to the mundane existence, not beyond that. There is therefore no objection against the belief according to Karmavada that all liberated Jivas are īśvara. It would not be proper to state, oply on the basis of faith that īśvara should be just one. Jiva the cause of its own obstructions or obstacles.
When man becomes active in matters of works related to this and the other world, it is not possible that he has not to face any obstruction whatsoever. Man should cultivate this faith that the internal and basic cause of obstruction lies in his own self, whether or not he is conscious of it. The internal basis on which the poisonous tree of obstruction grows, must necessarily have its seed sown in the same land. Some ocher individual can possibly become instrumental in the growth of the tree like wind, water etc. that constitute external instruments, But man must have a steadfast intellectual faith that that individual is certainly not the seed of the obstruction. If this happens, man will vision the basic cause of obstruction in his own self and he will neither find fault with others nor will he be frightened himself. Maxmuller's view regardiog the doctrine of Karma
Dr. Maxipuller's views regarding the supremacy of the doctrine of Karma are worth knowing. He states--
“The whole world, such as it is, is the result of acts: the character and fate of each man are the result of his acts in this or in a former life, possibly also of the acts of others. This is with them the solution of what we venture to call the injustice of God.... A man who suffers and suffers, as we say unjustly, seems to them but paying off a debt or laying up capital for another life.... It cannot be by a Divine caprice that one man is born deaf or dumb or blind, another strong and bealthy. It can be the result of former acts only, whether in this life, the doer of them is aware of them or not."
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
