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How Karma Theory Relates to
Modern Science
DULI CHANDRA JAIN
INTRODUCTION
The karma theory of the Jaina religion is a unique, rational, scientific and complex theory. In its true conceptual form, it is unique to Jainism. It supports the features of the Jaina religion which distinguish it from other religions of the world, viz., the concept of independence of each individual soul and the teaching that self help is the means to achieve such independence. The theory of karma is scientific in the sense that it conforms to the basic premises of science. However, it has not been established by modern scientific experiments. The karma theory is complex and thus it is one of the least understood concepts of Jainism. In its simplest form, it is stated : As you sow, so you reap. It is interpreted that karma rewards or punishes us for our past deeds. It is construed to imply that all wealthy and powerful people of the world did good deeds in the past and that is why they are what they are. It has been distorted to indicate that karma is powerful, even more powerful than the soul, our future is predestined and whatever has to happen to our soul will happen. On the one hand, people have the impression that one can avoid the consequences of undesirable karma by religious rituals such as prayers, special worships, charitable contributions etc. On the other hand, sometimes it is said that we should undergo sufferings which might be the consequences of past karma so that we will not have
the future. A careful study of the karma theory as described in the Jaina scriptures, performed with a scientific viewpoint, leads to the conclusion that the above interpretations are only partially true.
STATEMENT OF KARMA THEORY
Material (drarya) and Abstract (bhāra) Karma
There are two types of souls in this universe, the liberated souls (mukta jīva) which are the pure souls (siddhas) having infinite perception, knowledge and bliss (ananta darśana, jñāna and sukha), and the worldly (impure) souls (samsāri jiva) which are involved in the mundane cycle
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