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Jaina Logic
time that a particular crop or fruit requires for its ripening is not unalterable or fixed. It differs with different countries. It is shorter in countries that employ machines in farming than in those that do not. When things are made by hand, their production takes much time. But when the same things are manufactured by machines in factories, their production takes very little time. In the medieval age when there were no railways, it took months for a traveller to reach Banaras from Viramgam, whereas in the modern age by railways he can reach Banaras within three days and by aeroplane he can reach a distant country within a few hours only. All know this. We observe that the duration of time required by a particular effect to come into being can be thus changed. Even then generally long or short duration of time is necessarily required by every effect for its production or emergence. Time is not independent or sole cause of an effect. But it is proper to grant it as much importance as it deserves, when it produces an effect depending upon effort, nature, etc. If man understands that time is one of the important factors that produce an effect, he will learn to be patient during the whole period from the inception of the work to its completion or accomplishment. Otherwise, he will wrongly expect success or accomplishment or fruit the moment the work is started or before its due time; he will lose all hope on account of not attaining success or the result at once or before time; this will make him slack in his efforts; and as a result he will be certainly deprived of success or result. But as soon as he recognises the fact that time is one of the factors that are necessarily required in the production of an effect, he comes to have an understanding that the fruit or success can be secured only in due course of time; and consequently he remains firmly engaged in the work till it is accomplished.
The due duration of time can be changed. But the nature cannot be transgressed. From the practical standpoint, even the nature can be transgressed. (In practice, what is regarded as the nature of man is in fact not his pure nature but impure nature, hence there is possibility of change in it.) Angry nature of a person can become mild on account of his association with the calm and composed saint or can be totally exterminated by the force of spiritual and wholesome reflections. Under the influence of good company, the wicked may turn into saintly persons. And under the influence of bad company, even the good persons become wicked. When different things are mixed with one another, their original natures get changed and in their place new natures emerge in
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