Jain Journal 2014 07

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

Page 24

Dr. Subhash C. Jain : Transmigration, Evolution and Jain Karma Doctrine
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body only once in a life time among eight time-opportunities, called apakarşa24. The moment when a living being binds the āyu karma of its next life is termed as age-bonding moment. It is said that the subspecies of the āyu karma depends on the regular nature of volition activities of a living being2. Though the causes of karmic bondage of the eight types of karma are described in the scriptures26. The factor that determines the regular nature of the volition activities of a living being is not explicitly mentioned in them. As the new deeds of a living being depend on the karma phala of the old karma, it is logical to assume that the regular nature of the volition activities of the living being depends on the karmic load of their karmic body and the birthspecies in the next life depends on the karmic load at the age bonding moment.
Conceptual Scheme of Evolution :
The evolution of the life-form of living beings is characterized by the number of the potency of the vital powers, which in turn are determined by the karmic load of their karmic body. Life-form evolves with the increase either in the number or the potency of the vital powers. The evolution of the life-form is, therefore, of two types: upward and lateral. In the upward evolution of the life-form the number of the vital powers increases from four to ten. In the lateral evolution of the life-form the potency of the vital powers increases while the number of the vital powers remains the same.
The evolution of the life from of living beings is based on one of the universal rules of the karma doctrine, termed 'Rule of Development. According to the rule of development, the spiritual and physical developments/deterioration of living beings occur with the decrease/increase in their karmic load. The spiritual development occurs with the physical development and vice versa. Both developments take place simultaneously and mutually influence each other27. The rule of development will become meaningless if one develpoment