________________
i14
THE JAINA GAZETTE
To come to the explanation of the doctrine of Love, it is pointed out by Jainism that every action affects the doer of it just as much as the being in regard to which that action is performed. Nay, it is conceivable that the latter individual may escape the effect of our action, but the former cannot, though the effect of action on another is easily discernible but not so on one's own self. What happens is this that with every action flows a subtle invisible kind of material, into the soul which combines with it and modifies its constitution and disposition. The soul is a simple substance, and therefore immortal, since compounds alone are liable to disintegration, disruption and destruction. But in combination with matter spirit or soul itself becomes subject to birth and death. Matter also interferes with its other attributes which are fully divine, whence the statement 'I have said Ye are Gods.' The divinity of the soul can be realised if it can be rid of the crippling companionship of matter. But, as already pointed out, matter comes into it with every thought, word and deed. How. then, is this poisonous influx to be stopped ? It cannot be done all at once, surely. There is a graduated path of progress along which success can be easily attained. This material influx is of two kinds, bad and less bad. First of all we must so manage our psychology as to avoid the worst forms of this influx, and then gradually all influx itself. I have no time to go deeply into the question to-day, but I may say that it is capable of rational demonstration along the most rigorous of lines of enquiry which are known to science. The principle is that all selfish forms of desire for the things of the senses are the causes which give rise to the worst forms of the material influx. Words and deeds, and thoughts, which are less tinged with selfishness are, then, the causes which enable one to avoid the worst forms of the material influx. Therefore, in loving one's neighbour one escapes from the worst forms of this influx, and in hating any one, even though it be only an animal that is killed or devoured, one courts the worst fate for oneself, by engendering the very worst nations between his own soul and the subtle constantly pouring into it. This is why it is commandment in the Bible: thou shalt not kill! Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
types of combimaterial that is laid down as a You will notice
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
