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I am the Soul
In the Jain tradition, five causative elements - samavaya karana – have been recognised. 1. Kala -
2. Swabhava 3. Bhavitavyata 4. Karma, and 5. Purushartha
There are so many activities in the world where only time appears to be working. To all appearances, it seems as if only the ripening of time has led to the work being done. Nevertheless, in those cases time is the predominant causative element while the other four are there to a lesser extent. However, they are certainly there.
Certain activities where time is the predominant causative element: a baby conceived in a woman's womb will be delivered only at its right time; neither earlier nor later, and if it does it will be an exception. If a seed is sown for a tree, it will germinate only after it has taken its time, never earlier. Similarly, if you plant a mango seed today, you cannot get fruit in the same year. Many seeds germinate immediately. If you add curds to milk, it will curdle only in good time, not immediately. All six seasons will appear only in their proper time. If you want winter in summer or spring in autumn, they will not appear; the seasons will come only when their time does.
Why! Even for a supreme soul like the Tirthankar who possesses infinite strength, death does come at a destined time. It is merely a moment, but death can never deviate. In our own history there is this anecdote about Bhagawan Mahaveer that the Bhasmagraha was to set in after his liberation. Indra became aware of this, came to Prabhu and requested thus, “Prabhu! Bhasmagraha is about to set in. Please extend your life by two
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