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Para-psychology and Jainism
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sandal paste, a woman etc., which are all objects of sight, is irrelevant since persons having the same means for enjoying happiness do not get the same type of happiness.
To the second question, why Karma has a physical form, it is said that because of our experience of pleasure, pain etc., since there can be no such experiences in association with that which is formless, just in connection with other. Then Karma has a physical shape because it undergoes change in a way different from souls, which is inferred form the change of its effects like body.
Now the last question is-how could the material Karma be connected with the immaterial soul? It is said that it can be in the way consciousness is affected by a drink of intoxicant etc. Then the empirical soul is not absolutely formless. Jainas believe in the Doctrine of Extended Consciousness1. The soul is equal in extent to its own body, for its attributes are found only in the body. Now Karma is material and soul is also extended, hence it can be affected by the material Karma. However, the Jainas regard that the soul and Karma stand to each other in a relation of beginningless conjunction", like the association of the dross with the gold. But just as the dross is removed by the action of an alkaline substance, so the removal of beginningless Karmic veil is possible by the practice of the prescribed course of religious meditations etc. This higher psychology of the Jainas has been worked out in greater details. The material particles constituting the Karma can be viewed from their nature and number depending upon the activities of body, mind and speech, and duration and intensity depending upon passions3 (Passions are
1. (a) Uma Swami: Ibid.
(b) Mallisena : Ibid.
2. Nahar, P. C. and Ghosh, K. C.: An Epitome of Jainism, Calcutta, 1957.
3. Devendra Sūri Karina-Grantha, Atmananda Jaina Granthamala, Ahmedabad, 1921.
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