________________
CHAPTER -VII. 2
VII.2. (i) Jaina view of Karma, Sanātana Dharma (Vedic)
and other philosophies
Karma literally means action, but as every action is triple in its nature, belonging partly to the past, partly to the present and partly to future, it has come to mean the sequence of events, the law of cause and events, the succession in which each effect follows its own cause.
The word karma, action, simply should however remind us that what is called consequence of an action is really not a separate thing but is a part of the action, and cannot be divided from it. The consequence is that part of the action, which belongs to the future, and is as much a part of it as the part done in the present.
The suffering is not the consequence of wrong act but an actual part of it, although it may be only experienced later. A soldier is sometimes wounded in battle, and in excitement does not feel any pain; afterwards, when he is quite he feels the pain; so a man sins and feel no suffering, but later the suffering makes itself felt. The suffering is not separated from the wounded, any more than heat from fire, though experienced as a result.
Hence all things are linked together indissolubly, woven and interwoven inseparably; nothing occurs which is not linked to the past and to the future. How shall there be in this saṁsāra an uncaused action?'
Boat without oars sails or rudder is carried himself drifting about helplessly by the wind and current, and sailor find along under the pressure of forces. But a clever sailor, with oars, sails and rudder, can sail along his boat in any direction he pleases, not because he has changed the wind and the currents, but because he understands
'Dr. Annie Besant and Bhagawandas, "Sanatana Dharma”, 1940, P-67
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
