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Jaina Philosophy and Religion
the sin or demerit of violence, because the entire event with all its characters and details was predetermined. It was predetermined as to who was to kill whom, how and when. Again, it was also fixed that such and such mental states would arise in the mind of the murderer at that destined time. This being the case, what is the fault or sin of the murderer? He is not responsible for the act. A man saves a saint caught in the flames of fire by extinguishing fire and giving proper treatment. Another person saves a saint dying of hunger by giving him food. What merit do they earn by their good activities? They earn neither merit nor demerit. They cannot take credit of their good works. It is because they are predetermined. It was predetermined that the former would go there, extinguish fire, save the saint and the latter would approach the hungry, give him food, etc. Each and every event is predetermined to happen when it happens. What did the saviour do? As a matter of fact he did nothing. He is simply the instrument of Fate or Destiny. Alas! what a terrible doctrine!
In the doctrine of determinism, is there anything like carving out of one's own future? If man's future is fixed, there will remain no scope for him to plan for his future and it will be futile to talk of effectual human efforts. From determinism follows that nothing is achieved by human effort. The doctrine of determinism tramples to death under its hard heel ideas of efficacious human efforts, free-will, morality, self-development, spiritual discipline, etc. In it, there is no possibility of improving one's destiny by good works, self-control, righteous conduct, etc. For mankind, doctrine of determinism is unending pithy ghastly darkness; it is a terrific
curse.
We should understand that instrumental causes are efficient in their own way and field. Even before its production or manifestation, an effect exists in its substance-material cause-in a potential form. Oil exists in the sesamum, a statue in a stone, curd in milk. The operation of instrumental causes renders that manifest which was formerly in an unmanifested condition. Substance or material cause requires the help of instrumental causes to manifest its proper modes existing in it potentially. This brings out the utmost importance and necessity of the instrumental causes in the production or manifestation of an effect. Worshipping images of God, studying scriptures, approaching a spiritual teacher and listening to his discourses, residing in a pure, holy and peaceful place, taking wholesome food and drink-who does not recognise the usefulness of all these factors in making life more and more elevated, noble and righteous? If
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