Jainism a Theistic Philosophy

Author(s): Krishna A Gosavi
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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JAINISM: A THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY "GOD IN JAINISM"
body nor the sense organs, but something else. This something else is a sentient (capable of perceiving senses) substance, the soul. Acts are momentary and give their fruits through their impressions, which serve as a link between acts and fruits, and acts leave their impressions on the soul. These impressions remain associated with the soul till the souls enjoy or suffer their fruits at destined time. These impressions are material and called karma.
Some people who are happy while others are miserable, some are intelligent while others are dull, some are rich while others are poor, and some are masters while others are servant. Infinite inequalities and difference exist here in this world. These irregularities, abnormality and differences are governed by the cause called karma". In this way Jaina and other philosophers have proved the existence of karma and the existence of karma automatically proves the existence of Soul. Therefore when the existence of soul and karma is understood, existence of life after death (Paraloka) can be easily convinced.
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"The Soul is not an exclusive possession of human being, according to Jainism. It allows the soul principle to extend to all the living things of the universe.' With reference to existences of the soul, Nahar writes, "It is these souls in plasma that lie scattered in every nook and corner of the universe and each is the doer of good and bad deeds to reap the consequences of which each takes the repetition of birth and deaths according to the merit of own karma and thus traverses through the various grades (gatis) of Saṁsāra. Heaven, hell and a purgatory of ultimately release itself from the fetters of bondage by dissipation of its own karma whereupon it becomes pure and perfect and fixed as it were in the region of 'Aloka' (non-loka)."
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21 Pañcāstikāya, V.27
22Dr. G.N. Joshi, Ātmā and Mokṣa, (1965), P-229 23 Nahar and Ghosh : An Epitome of Jainism, P-279