Journal of Gyansagar Science Foundation 2013 04 01

Author(s): Sanjeev Sogani, Vimal Jain
Publisher: Gyansagar Science Foundation

Page 92

Prof. Dr. Sohan Raj Tater, Volume 1 Issue 1 April 2013
the beings too will be the same. It does not necessarily mean that the clone of a criminal will be a criminal and that of a scientist will be a scientist. People seem to think that scientists can assuredly produce any being by way of cloning. The first clone of sheep came after the failure of 277 experiments. The percentage of success in case of human cloning has been only 1 or 2 percent.
The beings that are produced after a number of failures are not really produced by scientists. Scientists simply create situations favourable to a certain body structure, Putting life/soul into that body is beyond their control. Cloning is related only to the level of body and the issues of soul and rebirth are beyond the limits of scientists and laboratories. The inkling of soul and rebirth occurs only to non-violent and truthful human beings. This is a fact that even scientists cannot deny. The reason is obvious. Innumerable events occur every time in the whole of world that prove their existence.
Jain Religion and Technology
In bio-technology, a newly developed branch of biology, we study issues like human genom project, genetic engineering, genetic surgery and human cloning etc. It's latest researches show the various characteristics of the genes that are contained in chromosomes. All the different stages in the life of man-old age, crime, diseases etc. are controlled by these genes and the scientists claim of bringing into existence a desired life by bringing about changes in genes. Keeping in view this characteristic of genes and genetic codes, the concept of relations between genetic codes, and karmic atoms has been provided to scientists and some of them are also doing research in this field.
First of all we should be clear that genes and genetic codes are not the ultimate; physical, environmental, internal and external conditions also control them. Activities of life are conducted in accordance with the activities of the being itself and the external circumstances. Genes and the factors affecting them ultimately indicate the possibilities of karmic atoms about which the scientists are presently silent. If the scientists, make researches, understanding the Jain karmic theory thoroughly, on the various activities of man like truth, falsehood, nonviolence, crimes, compassion, and cruelty, they with find this principle absolutely true.
According to Jain karmic theory, the body of a living being is formed because of its physique-making karma. The features a being gets are determined by this very karma. But in the case of cloning, the body is formed by man himself. We can prepare features that we like. The concept of physique-making karma thus seems to have
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no meaning but it is not true. To understand reality we will have to go to the depth of the Jain karmic theory.
We should, first of all be clear in mind that each and every thing does not take place only on account of karmas. crya Mahpraj, in his book 'Karmavda' (The karmic Theory), Says, "Each and everything does not depend on karma. If we come to think that everything is subject to karmas, we will come closer to fatalists who believe that what is destined, will be, or to the theists who believe that everything will happen as God wills. We cannot do anything. If karmas come to be all and all, there will be no value of principal exertions that is put to destroy them; neither will there be the possibility of liberation because we shall reap what we sow and continue to have the bondage of new karmas. By thinking this ways, the concept of self-exertion and liberation will be proved to be false. "It is clear, thus, that karma is not all and all."
Making his view clearer, crya Mahpraja farther says, "Karma is not an absolute power. There is control on it also. Karmas can also be changed. Lord Mahvra said," You will have to face the consequences of your doings. "This is a general rule but there are certain exceptions. Premature fruition, delayed fruition, hastening and transition in karmas are possible by which karmas can be changed. We can say that karmas can be dissociated prematurely by putting forth principal exertion. The time-period and intensity of karmas can be increased and decreased and karmas of the same nature can be transformed also. The force of the fruition of karmas can be suppressed and even rendered incapable of giving fruit for the time being. This process is known as subsidence.
crya Mahpraja believes that the principle of transition is the principle of mutation of genes. One thing to be remembered is that the fruition of karmas takes place in accordance with the substance, region, time and feeling. Karma is not the only thing responsible for the formation of personality. Heredity, circumstances, atmosphere, geographical conditions and environment-all of these factors have a deep effect on the nature and behaviour of a man. Longevity is a karma but it can be diminished with the help of external causes like poison etc. Similarly one's facial features can be changed by bringing about changes in the genes present in the chromosomes of the cells. This is possible through transition, according to Jain karmic theory. We, therefore, come to the conclusion that according to the Jain karmic theory, it is possible to produce beings of the same shape and size, to change the nucleus of the cell and to produce beings having the same features through human genome project, genetic engineering, genetic surgery and human cloning. Hence