________________
172
JAINISM: A THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY "GOD IN JAINISM"
(1) Is the power of God separate or non-separate from him? If you consider this power non-separate from God, then all things are God. Everything becomes i.e.; God- good and evil, heaven and hell; merit and demerit; virtue and vice; the king and beggar; the virtuous and wicked; a good man and a thief; and so on. If that is the case, then instead of creating the universe he has brought on his own ruin.
(2) When Iśvara (God) has become everything, then what is the use of his creating the Vedas and other scriptures and what is the use of reading them. This is another imperfection of Him.
(3)
If these Vedas and other scriptures were created for his own knowledge, then he must be without knowledge before creation. This is the third fallacy.
(4)
He is proved to have become impure from being pure and to have under gone the labour of creating the universe, which is fruitless. This is fourth fallacy.
(5) The fifth objection arises that no distinction between good and evil is proved.
(6) The sixth objection arises that why the God has involved himself in this difficulty. In this way you impute many imperfections to God.
91
(2) Another question:"
If God is omnipotent; hence He can produce the universe without any material cause.
Muni Atmārāmaji answered
"Muni Atmārāmajī, "Chicago Prasnottara i.e. Questions & Answers on Jainism" for the Chicago Parliament of World Religions", 1918 published by Shri. Atmanand Pustak Pracharak Mandal, Roshan Mohalla, Agra. Q.No. 12, P-25
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
