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JAINISM: A THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY "GOD IN JAINISM"
living beings have in this life, was the result of their actions in the one preceding it. In this way the chain goes back ad-infinitum. This argument proves that the world is beginning less and that God is not its creator.
(7) Another question:%
It is declared in the Upanișad as well as stated by Anandagiri, the disciple of Samkara in the third chapter of the "Samkara-digvijaya'that the Supreme Spirit is the material cause of the universe. The material cause is that which transforms itself into effect. This shows that whatever there is in the universe is the transformation of the Supreme spirit. The universe thus being the form of the Supreme Spirit, what objection is there that God is the creator of the Universe?
Muniji answered:
You are certainly the prince of atheist. Do you at all consider what you say? Your statement shows your position to be atheist When the world is the transformation of the Supreme Being, then there are no such things as a sinner, a virtuous man, a sage, a fool, the heaven and hell, a good man, or a thief, truthful or untruthful scripture, etc. From this point of view there is no difference between an act of sexual intercourse with one's wife and that with one's other relatives, no difference between an ascetic and an ass, because when God is material cause of all things, the whole world is of one essence and forms as there nothing else.
(8) Another question:97
Muni Ātmārāmaji, Ibid. Q.No. 31, P-47 Muni Ātmārāmaji, "Chicago Praşnottara i.e. Questions & Answers on Jainism” for the Chicago Parliament of World Religions”, 1918 published by Shri Ātmanand Pustak Pracharak Mandal, Roshan Mohalla, Agra. Q.No. 34, P-51
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