Outlines of Jainism

Author(s): J L Jaini, F W Thomas
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

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OUTLINES OF JAINISM
(2) denizens of hell, (3) human beings, (4) non-human beings.
III. Gotra-karma determines the high or low family and nationality, and is accordingly of two kinds, (1) uchcha-gotra, (2) nīcha-gotra.
IV. Vedanīya-karma in its working causes to the individual pain or pleasure, and is accordingly of two kinds, (1) asāta, (2) sāta.
A tabular account of the 148 prakritis may be given here (see Folding Table).
The details of the eight kinds of karmas, or their 148 subdivisions, can be worked out at an infinite length. One may call this doctrine of Jainism almost spiritual mathematics. Every effect in the world, every phenomenon, every feeling, every hope, every disappointment is a natural and necessary consequence of some action or inaction of the soul. Ignorance, infatuation, the passions may be the cause of it. But the cause never was set in motion by the soul without the effect being forced upon the soul's acceptance. And yet the soul's choice is as unlimited to-day as ever. The only mode of exercising it is to doff ignorance, indetermination, and weakness, face facts, recognize in the bondage of matter and our identification with it the sole source of its power; and then determine to suppress it, to remove this alien matter from ourselves. And then, as Sri Amritachandra Sūri tells us : "by destroying the destructive and non-destructive kurma perfect freedom will be acquired, the soul will shine out in the fulness of knowledge, its sight of truth will be perfect, its conviction in the eternity of things will be undisturbed