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INTRODUCTION TO JAINISM
Evolution
Jainism does not have an explicit doctrine of evolution, and among Jains themselves it is a point of discussion whether one can speak of an evolution - whether gradual or punctuated – of inner qualities from less developed to more developed forms.
Jains may never have given real attention to this question, and in general many take the attitude that “what you (in the West) think is your business, is of no concern to us; but let us go our own way.” Many regard western scientific theory as something that may be a nice occupation, but is by nature evanescent subject to constant change, and they prefer to focus on the knowledge of all ages. Science is still very far from knowing everything. On the other hand, every individual spiritual seeker has to go a long, long way to develop his mind and inner faculties to reach full understanding of the deepest meaning of the spiritual doctrines given to humankind by those who were far ahead of the average. Until that time no human being can claim to know the truth. There may be many truths and insights hidden in the doctrines of Jainism (or any genuine thought system for that matter) whose meaning even Jain scholars or monks have not yet glimpsed.
Some Jains however try to compare their own teachings with the theories of the occident, and I - as a nonJain - have done the same thing. When studying Jain philosophy there are to my opinion enough clues to defend the view that Jainism has an implicit doctrine of evolution, and in such a way that world culture can draw much benefit from it.
The mainstream belief among Jains is that the soul, depending on its vibrations and resultant karma, can haphazardly move up and down and horizontally through all higher and lower forms of existence. Still final liberation from the cycle of joy and suffering can only be reached through the human kingdom - and in this respect Buddhism, Theosophy and Jainism agree. The theosophical system teaches that the soul after many incarnations in the human kingdom - long
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