Jain Spirit 2003 10 No 16

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 58

PHILOSOPHY
REAP WHAT YOU SOW
P. S. Surana explains and demystifies the practical implications of Karma Philosophy
THE DIVERSE AND STRANGE EVENTS WHICH | our Darshanavaraniya karma. Due to these karmas we
take place in the world and in our lives have their roots become sleepy. One can sleep while lying down, while
in karma. We can see the tree but not the seed. Without sitting, while standing or while walking. One would have the seed the tree wouldn't be there. Similarly, the world that we his favourite meal in sleep or travel somewhere, but he may see, the occasions, the events have karma as their seeds. Karma not remember his deeds when he wakes up. is not visible, yet it monitors and records our thoughts, words
Darshanavaraniya karmas are acquired by neglecting or and deeds, impacting the quality of our present and future lives.
criticising Tritatva (deva, guru and dharma): by misusing There are two main divisions of karma. One is Ghati speech, eyes and other senses; by not following dharma karma, which destroys the main attributes of the soul (atma). with faith. Darshanavaraniya karmas bind you in six ways: They are Gyanavaraniya, Darshanavarniya, Mohaniya and criticising the 'curious' (the knowledge seeker); taking Antaraya karma. The other group is Aaghati karma (Vedaniya, wrong credits of the good deeds of others, giving trouble to Aayushya, Nama and Gotra karmas) which do not destroy the the 'curious'; creating hurdles for the curious': hating the main attributes of atma. All Jivas acquire karma by thoughts, curious': creating unnecessary fights and controversy with speech and actions. We can acquire auspicious karma and the 'curious'. You can suffer in the following ways: Nidra, inauspicious karma, and they are being constituted continually. Prachala, Thinadrinidra, Chakshudarshanavaraniya, Acquired auspicious karma gives us happiness and Achakshudarshanavaraniya, Avadhidarshanavaraniya and inauspicious karma gives suffering.
Kevaldarshanavaraniya. We can destroy these karmas by Gyanavaraniya Karma
worshipping and devoting to Tritatva faithfully and by Some people are more intelligent, some are less. Some are
making good use of our senses. clever at studies whereas some are dull. Some are smart, some
Mohaniya Karma are not. The reason for these variations is their own Mohaniya karma destroys our senses in the same way as Gyanavaraniya karmas. These karmas don't allow you to get drinking alcohol destroys our senses. Under the effect of knowledge or information. It prevents you from knowing what this karma, the Jiva doesn't recognise a good teacher, good others are thinking. It prevents you from knowing the world. deva, good dharma and his own soul. It would consider This karma covers the infinite knowledgeable atma, like clouds good things as unwholesome and falsehood to be true. over the Sun, same as when the eyesight is blocked if we cover Anger, pride, attachment and avarice are the results of these the eyes. The thicker the block, the less is the development of karmas, which can put smiles on some faces and tears in knowledge and vice-versa. We attain true knowledge others eyes. It gives happiness to some, unhappiness to (kevalgyana) if we remove the cover. Gyanavaraniya karmas others. They make people afraid, collide and fight, and at are acquired in the following ways: criticising the guru and times they unite them. They make us doubt about dharma, other learned; taking wrong credits of the good deeds of others; guru and god. Of all the karmas, Mohaniya is dreaded the giving trouble to the learned; creating hurdles in learning: most. They are built by intense anger, intense pride, strong hating or not respecting books; creating unnecessary fights and attachment, acute avarice and deceit. controversy with the learned.
It can be destroyed by treating everyone alike by One who surrenders himself to the guru, dharma, the endurance, by true knowledge of the soul, by practising learned or knowledge and one who performs penance detachment to worldly life and living like a Lotus (which is can destroy Gyanavaraniya karmas. He can become good in the water but always above the water). Mohaniya karma in future if he dedicates himself sincerely. There are five binds you in six ways: intense anger, intense pride, strong kinds of Gyana: Matigyana, Shrutgyana, Avadhigyana, attachment, acute avarice, intense darshana-mohaniya and Manparyavgyana and Kevalgyana. One should not forget the intense charitra-mohaniya. It can make you suffer in following five vices, which always obstruct knowledge: pride, twenty-eight ways. anger, recklessness, sickness and laziness.
Antaraya Karma Darshanavaraniya Karma
You have money, food and clothes, which you can give to These karmas reduce the power of vision and perception. They
the needy. But if you don't feel like giving it, the reason reduce the powers of senses in the same way as a guard
behind it is Antaraya karma. You are trying hard to get prevents people to meet the king directly. We cannot see the money, success, fame, and if you don't get it, it means your things behind a wall, a mountain or even our head. We cannot Antaraya karmas are obstructing you. You have many of see the entire world at a time. The reason for the obstruction is your favourite dishes, beautiful clothes, a nice house, a
loving mother and money. But you can't eat those dishes,
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Jain Spirit September - November 2003