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Jaina Philosophy and Religion
or of a group, which are described as 'determined or controlled by God or Fate'. From such events, we can have the idea of the existence of karma.
(4) Human effort (Puruşartha)
We cannot help but recognise the importance of human effort. Those who regard karmas as supreme should question themselves as to who generates karmas. It is the soul who generates karmas. The soul binds karmas to itself. Human effort helps karma to rise (udaya). It can convert the auspicious karmas into inauspicious ones, and vice versa. It rules supreme there where the karmas cannot reach and function. The karma (the 'adṛṣṭa'-'Unseen') makes the soul wander in the transmigratory cycle, whereas human effort wages war against karmas, destroys their entire force and leads the soul to the Abode-of-the-Liberated. It is not the force of karmas that brings about the manifestation of the state of liberation. In fact, it is the destruction of karmas that is the only cause of liberation. And it is only human effort that can destroy karmas. When one directs one's attention to this uncommon characteristic of human-rather spiritual-effort, one finds improper to give sole importance to karma. This is the reason why the knowledgeable and wise saints have taught us that the only means for improving and destroying karmas is one's firm determination to keep one's mental, vocal and bodily operations auspicious (wholesome) or pure while performing good, auspicious and praiseworthy acts. Those who depend solely on karmas become despondent and indolent; hence they are deprived of success, they are unable to remove their 'poverty' or 'destitution'. Wealth chooses and favours those who are industrious and brave.'
1. arabhetaiva karmāņi śräntaḥ śräntaḥ punaḥ punaḥ/
karmány arabhamāņaṁ hi puruşam śrir nişevate //300//-Manusmrti IX
Tired and tired over again, he should begin his activities; for fortune favours the man who undertakes activities.
Schopenhaur, a German philosopher, says: "Our happiness depends in a great degree upon what we are, upon our own individuality."
"It is the prerogative of man to be, in a great degree, the creature of his own making"-Burke.
"The poorest have sometimes taken the highest places; nor have difficulties appar ently the most insuperable proved obstacles in their way. Those very difficulties, in many instances, would even seem to have been their best helpers by evoking their
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