Book Title: Jainism a Theistic Philosophy
Author(s): Krishna A Gosavi
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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Page 253
________________ JAINA VIEW OF KARMA COMPARED WITH ...... 237 their directions, so can a man who knows the laws of nature utilize those whose forces are going his way and neutralize those which oppose. Therefore knowledge is indispensable; the ignorant are always slaves. The law states conditions under which certain results follow. According to the results desired conditions may be arranged, and, given the conditions, the results will invariably follow. Hence law does not compel any special action, but only renders all actions possible, and knowledge of law is power. The jīvātman,' as we have seen, are three fold in its nature; it consists of icchā, jñāna and kriyā, i.e. will wisdom and activity. These in the lower world of upādhis, of forms, express themselves as desire, knowledge and actions and these three fashion a man's karma, and each works according to a definite law Man verily is desire-formed, as is his desire, so is his thought; so he does actions. Samkara comments that desire is the root of the world. "Desire carries the man to the place where the object of desire exists and thus determining the channels of his future activities.' Desire attracts a man to the object of desire, binding him to them with links unbreakable; wherever the object of desire, there is must go the man who desires it. The object of desire is called fruit, and fruit which the man has sought he must consume, in whatever place it is found. The man impelled by desire, attached to fruit be good or evil, pleasurable or painful, the law is the same. So long as a man desires fruit, he is bound by his attachment to that fruit, and is said to have good or bad karma according as the fruit is pleasant or painful. When a man understand this law, he can watch over this desires, and allow them to attach themselves only to objects the possession of which will yield happiness; then in another life, he will have Dr. Annie Besant and Bhagawandas, “Sanātana Dharma”, P-68 3 Ibid, P-68 * Brhadāranyaka Upanişad, IV.4.5 SIbid, IV.4.6 Jain Education International For Personal & Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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