Jain Journal 1989 01

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

Page 17

JAIN JOURNAL
3.
The discovery reinstates the karma theory :
The electro-magnetic field transmigrates with the soul to some other birth or life is a very important discovery. The effects created in our gross body will be left on death but the effects created in the field will accompany us wherever we go. It must convince us of the truth of karma theory that nothing of what we do, or better do spiritually, is ever lost but bears its fruits if not in this life then in next life or lives.
Revaluation of Values
To my mind the discovery of the 'field' should be a turning point where we should rejudge over values in its light. Whatever morality we hold is either determined with the view to the welfare of the gross-body personality in society or the traditional supernaturalistic morality taken as commanded by God or by some super-human agency. The former could not be sufficiently developed while the latter could not satisfy our reason. Now we can rationally build quite a developed morality which would satisfy our being more than ever. We attempt here to discuss some bases which naturally can be drawn as value conclusions from the discovery of the field as we above understood it.
1.
Spirituality is the core of morality :
As Plato said that the highest man is contemplative, we should become less physicalistic, extrovert and more spiritual, introvert. It is reaffirmed by the fact that the inner spiritual life of man can only have any effect on his electro-magnetic field. We have seen that better the field the greater the interests of even the gross body are safeguarded and vice versa, the worse the ‘field' the greater the possibility of injury to the interests of the gross body though we are putting our utmost caution and efforts to safeguard and prosper it. In fact, we should not conceive the amenities, of the gross body any greater riches than the rich electromagnetic field. The external riches - wealth, social position etc. are to be taken more as a reflection of the richness of the 'field' than merely as the results of one's external efforts.
Further on the conative and affective side, to ensure a better 'field' we must ensure our spiritual peace and satisfaction otherwise the 'field' must remain of a distracted, lower, and even of malignant sort. The unauspicious kasāyas, as enumerated in Jaina texts and with some variation in other Indian systems, must have unauspicious effect on the 'field' because the motives, then, are either to harm other living creatures, to