Jain Journal 1995 07

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

Page 14

LALITHA SELF, SIN AND KARMA IN THE SUTRAKṚTĀNGA
3
birth is obtained. Of all the births the human birth is quite rare and best which enables one to attain freedom from the vicious cycle of samsara, if one cares to open the eyes and see that human beings are burning in the three types of fires like the people who suffer from fever. Birth, old age, disease and death are different forms of suffering the whole universe is full of suffering. The ignorant people who crave for happiness in this universe instead find only suffering. By harming creatures for the sake of their own survival and happiness and for the sake of their liberation people kill beings and in spite of their efforts revolve in the unending cycle of existence. Hence keeping this in mind a faithful adherent should aim at nirvāṇic goal.6
According to Jain Philosophy all life is transitory and impermanent. Life of living beings will come to an end within a short span of time, such as, children in mother's womb die just as a hawk catches a quail. Those who dwell in heaven will surely leave it after sometime. Similarly, human beings who live with kith and kin will survive only for a limited time. According to the noble law preached by Mahavira there are six kinds of living beings which are formed out of earth, water, fire, air, seed and egg which are to be identified by wise human beings. One should not harm the above either by means of thought, speech and actions.9 The six classes of living beings are enumerated and they are born out of the four elements and out of seed and womb.10 In all the four quarters of the earth the plant life springs by originating in a sixfold manner viz., those which originate from the top of the plant, root, knots, stems, beads and by coalescing articles of the substance such as grass. Those souls which are to be born as trees of different origin as explained above prior to their appearance as trees are embodied in earth which is the doctrine of karman preached by Mahāvīra."1
The living beings consume the liquid substance (i.e. the sap or humours) of the earth particles which are the origin of different things. These beings nourish in earth, water, fire, wind and plantbodies. The diversity of life, the bodies of manifold movable and immovable beings and the destroyed bodies which have been nourished before or absorbed by the rind are digested and assimilated by them.
6. Pandit Ratnasri Hemachandraji (Tr. & Commy.) Sri Sūtrakṛtānga Sutra (Prathama Śrutaskandha), p. 156.
7. JS Part II, p. 249.
8. Ibid., p. 299.
9. JS Part II, p. 302. 10. Ibid., p. 311.
11. Ibid., p. 389.