Jainism Eternal and Universal Path for Enlightenment

Author(s): Narendra Bhandari
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

Page 111

Jainism : The Eternal and Universal path for Enlightenment
111
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with the theory of Karma. The theory of Karma was developed to deal with the living and logically explains the inconsistency between individual's present actions (karma) and their expected consequences (deeds and destiny) in this life which some times seem unrelated or even contradictory.
Jains, as discussed previously believe in various layers of bodies (karmic, luminous, physical etc; chapter 6) which a living being possesses. Chakras related to anatomy have been discussed briefly in chapter 6 and the main emphasis is to activate these energy centres, which is useful in activating Kundalini required for emancipation. Therefore much importance is given to pra'a shakti (respiratory energy) which is vital in this process.
The relevant aspects of Jain biology are summarized below: Jain scriptures mention three different types of life: Audrik, Vaikrayik and ,h?rak which exist in different, well defined parts of the universe (called regions of heaven, human (and other earthly) habitation and hell). Thus life of different kinds may exist in many parts of the universe. As discussed in chapter on cosmology, if universe is created in triplets with positive, flat and negative curvatures, the regions of heaven, human habitation and hell will populate these three regions respectively. Jains have classified living beings on earth according to their sensory faculties, single sensed (e.g. plants), two sensed (worms), three sensed (ants), four sensed (butterflies), and five sensed (mammals, humans) indriyas (sensory organs: touch, taste, smell, vision, and hearing) which in a way is related to their increasing levels of consciousness. As far as the theory of Karma is concerned, plants and all types of animals are treated at par, subject to the same rules and can take rebirth in any forms, depending on their karmas. Unlike the Darwin's evolutionary theory, according to which the life on earth, which gradually evolved in steps from mono cellular organisms to humans in the 3.5 billion years of geologic history (Chapter 1), according to Jainism, all species occur someieswhere in the Universe at all times. The two concepts together are consistent with the idea that life is not confined only to the earth but
is spread through out the whole universe. 4. Jains believe in a soul in all living beings and therefore in reincarnation
(rebirth). Rebirth explains the fate of different beings which apparently may