Indian Philosophy

Author(s): Sukhlal Sanghavi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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The Relation of Cause and Effect
details--in texts like Vedas, Brāhmaṇas, Upanişads, Āgamas, a Pitakas. When thought is given to all this then it appears that consideration as to causal relation has been conducted on three levels, viz. this-worldly, other-worldly and unworldly. And on the basis thereof it can be said that the topics which are dealt with in the course of philosophical speculation are related to these very three levels,
The causal relation which on having taken note of the inevitable order of succession characterizing such physical events as are amenable to senseexperience and occur at a place or time more or less remote be
e type called 'worldly'; that is to say, in order to comprehend this type of causal relation mind endeavours chiefly on the basis of the capacity inherent in sense-organs. For example, we in practice find that a piece of cloth is an effect and that such a person is its producer while such things are the requisite means of production. An observation of this type generates in men curiocity to know about the cause of world-construction and as a result he posits some divine being of some other subtle material by way of that which causes the ever new events occurring in the world. This is what we call causal relation of the worldly type.
However, when impelled by the impressions left by an observation of this very type of causal relation man resorts to a deeper cognition then so many new questions occur to him. And thus runs his cogitation: "The social religious practices and ethical observances that are followed in life - are they absolutely futile ? Is the consequence yielded by them possible of attainment in this life alone or even after an end of this life ? Again, the relative strength or weakness of the pleasure or pain experienced in the world of living beings as also the difference exhibited in different cases by the imp. ressions left by these pleasures and pains - are they dependent only working of the worldy type of causal relation or is there also operative some other type of causal relation determining them ?" These and similar questions occasioned a consideration of the doctrine of rebirth or another world, According to this doctrine, in the same manner as the successive events occurring in this world are dependent on one type of causal relation the inequality observable in the world of living beings, since it is dependent on the impression left by a past life, comes under the operation of another type of causal relation called 'other-worldly'.
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Asad vă idam agra äsīt. - Taittiriyopanişad 2.7 Atmä vä idam eka evågra asin nänyat. -Aitareyopanişad 1.1 bhidyate hşdayagranthiś chidyante sarvasamśayāḥ / kşiyante cāsya karmáni tasmin drste paravare | --Mundakopanişad 2.2.8 Sad eva somyedam agra āsīt.-Chandogyopanişad 6.2.1 Prayogaparinata, miśraparinata and visrasäparinata pudgala.
-Sthanängasutra, Gujarati translation, Gujarat Vidyapith, p. 532