Jain Journal 1973 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 45

136
JAIN JOURNAL
When the material karmas come in contract with the soul fusion occurs ; whereby a new condition springs up, which is endowed with marvellous potentialities and is more powerful than the atom-bombs. One can easily imagine this awe-inspiring power of karmas, which has covered infinite knowledge, infinite power, infinite bliss of the soul and has made a beggar of this soul, which is intrinsically no less than a Paramātman---Pure and Perfect Soul. Psychic experiences of anger etc. cause the fusion of karmas and these karmas again produce feelings of attachment, aversion or anger etc. Thus the chain of karmic bondage continues ad infinitum.
The world is teeming with infinite souls, who by their dispositions are instrumental in transforming non-sentient matter into karmas which become possessed of indescribable potentialities. After the termination of their operation-period the karmas no longer act as clog on the spiritual progress. The entire world is active with karmic molecules. It appears that this fact is now acknowledged by our modern scientists also when they observe : "The world is radio-active. It always has been and always will be. Its natural radio-activities evidently are not dangerous and we can conclude from this fact that contamination from Atomic bombs if of the same magnitude as these natural radiations, is not likely to be at all dangerous.”
Acarya Pujyapada in his Sarvārtha Siddhi throws valuable light in this matter : “Just as the digestive fire of the stomach (the gastric fluid or juice) absorbs food suitable to it, so also the self attracts karmas of duration and fruition corresponding to the virulent, mild or moderate nature of passions. Just as the mixing of several juices of barley, flowers and fruits in a vessel produces intoxicating liquor, so also matter present co-extensive with the self becomes transformed into karmic matter owing to the presence of activities and passions.” (Reality, p. 218).
When the husk of paddy is removed from it, the rice loses its power of sprouting ; likewise when the husk of karmic molecules is severed from the mundane soul, the resultng Perfect Jīva cannot be enchained by the regermination of karmas. The nature of soul, entangled in the cob-web of transmigration can be understood easily, when we divert our attention to the impure gold found in a mine. The association of filth with golden ore is without beginning but when the foreign matter is burnt by fire with various chemicals the resulting pure gold glitters; in the like manner the fire of right belief, right knowledge and right conduct destroys the karmic bondage in no time. If the fire of Self-absorption is intense the work of destruction can be completed within a span of