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The Doctrine of Karma in Jaina Philosophy
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Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism (of course with minor differences). As man sows, so does he reap: our actions have their effects. These effects cannot be destroyed. They have to be experienced and exhausted. If we cannot exhaust the effects of our actions in this life, we have to complete the cycle of births and deaths to earn the fruit for all that we have done. No man ipherits the good or evil of another man. The doctrine of Karma is, thus, closely associated with the transmigration of souls. Every evil deed must be expitiated, and every good deed must receive its reward. If it is not possible to reap the fruits in one single empirical existence, it must be experienced on earth in fresh incarnation. Plato has made a reference to this theory in the Laws, perhaps under the influence of orphic mysticism, and refers to the tradition which is firmly believed by many, and has been received from those who are learned in the mysteries. In Indian thought, the Jainas have developed the doctrine of Karma on scientific basis.
Karma etymologically means whatever is done, any activity, It got associated with the after-effects of actions, both physical and psychical. Every Jiva (living being) is constantly active, expressing the activity in the three-fold functions of body, speech and mind. It leaves behind traces of after-effects in the physical and psychic froms. Every action, word or thought produces, besides its visible, invisible and transcandent effects. It produces under certain conditions certain potential energies which forge the visible effects in the form of reward or punishment. As in the case of a bond which continues to operate until, but loses its validity on, the repayment of the capital sum; so does the invisible effect of an action remain in potential form after the visible effect has disappeared. Actions performed in this life would be the causes of future life, and the present life is the result of actions performed in the previous life. So is the chain of life connected in the series of actions and their effects realised. The Karma
4. The Laws, 870.
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