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PROLOGUE I
Doctrine of Karman in Jain Philosophy
Basic Principle
Rebirth is the most important presupposition and the 'Doctrine of Karman'is the central dogma of almost all Indian philosophics/religions, consistent with their spiritual outlook. The gist of the doctrine is : every action of a living organisın -- thought, speech and bodily action-- is the cause of a transcendental effect; it generates a certain potential psycho-physical force which manifests itself under appropriate conditions in the worldly life in the form of happiness or misery and suffering. Just as a promissory note (a bond or an IOU) does not lose its validity until and unless the amount is repaid, se also ibe cffect of the force generated by an action continues to exist long after the disappearance of the cause itself. The effect, thus, does not confine itself to one life but continues for many lives beyond the present one. In other words, the entire gamut of the conditions and duration of the present life is the resultof the actions in the precedingones and those during the present life are the causes of the conditions and duration of the future existence. Since each life presupposes the actions of a preceding one, there is no beginning; and the migration of a soul continues without end, because actions which must be expiated in a future life are performed anew. However, thc SOUL, purc in itself, has an innate ability to attain its pure state (niriāņa) by demolishing the power of karman and thus terminate the cycle of rebirths, after a course of moral discipline and spiritual enlightenment. Metaphysical Basis
To properly understand the nature and function of karman it is necessary to briefly understand the metaphysical views of the Jains. According to Jains, the universe is neither created nor governed by a Supreme Being but is subject only to Universal Laws (Lokasthiti). It is
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