Book Title: Essence of Jainism
Author(s): Sukhlal Sanghavi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Page 183
________________ Karma element Karmasastra-A part of Spiritualism Pondering over the problems pertaining to Atma is the purpose of the Scriptures on spiritualism. It is therefore necessary for them to expound the worldly day to day form of Atma before they narrate its absolute nature. One question arises. Why do these visible states of Atma not become its inherent nature? It is therefore necessary for the science of spiritualism, to justify the visible nature of Atma first and then only proceed further. The Scripture on karma has done the same. It states that all the visible states of Atma are born of karma and further lays down the separateness of Atma from these. From this point of view, Karmasastra is just a part of Adhyatmasastra. 159 When it is guessed that all the superfluous forms of Atma are mayika or illusory, a natural desire to know the real nature of Atma arises, Karmasastra states that Atma is precisely paramātma and Jiva is Igvara. The merging of Atma in Paramātmā means that the Atma should reveal its Paramatmabhava enveloped by karma and attain to Paramātmahood. When it is stated that the Jiva is just a fractional part of Paramātmā, what is meant is that the digits of knowledge revealed by the Jiva, constitute only a small part of the moonlight in form of the perfect life-force that is enveloped. As soon as the covering of Karma is thrown away, the Cetana reveals itself in its perfect form. This is what we know as the attainment of godliness or the state of being Isvara. When the external objects like wealth, body etc. are looked upon as Atma, i.e., experiencing I-ness in material objects, it is external vision. Illusion of this non-distinction constitutes the feeling that Atma is something external. The Karmaśāstra asks us to discard this by proving it. Those persons whose mental leanings experience only this externality of Atma may not like the preaching of Karmasastra, but this makes no difference whatsoever in its real state. Karmasastra removes the illusion of the non-difference or identity between body and soul and reveals the sense of distinction between the two. Just wich this, man's inner vision opens. Man Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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