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the 20th chapter of the Uttarādhyayana sūtra says – “Appā mittamamittasca duppatthiya-suppatthio !” That is, - indulging in inauspiciousness the soul becomes its own enemy and practicing auspiciousness it becomes its own friend. The Jaina scriptures describe the conversion of karmic subtypes in great detail. According to them - 'as a rule, when an individual indulges in any sinful activity, his earlier bonded existing meritorious karma subtypes also get converted into sinful subtypes and when someone undertakes some auspicious activity, his earlier bonded existing sinful karma subtypes reduce in intensity and duration, i.e., the sinful karmic bondage is partially destroyed and reduced; and gets converted into meritorious ones. According to modern psychological terms it is called sublimation. Thus, the auspicious activities of mercy, kindness, service, charity, friendship, affection, etc., result in destruction, reduction and separation of sinful karma subtypes. The destruction of sinful karmic bondages result in liberation. Therefore, the auspicious activities of mercy, kindness, service, charity, friendship, affection, etc., are the helpful means of liberation and to consider them as hindrances in the way of liberation is to contradict the Jaina faith as such.
If the auspicious activities were considered as unacceptable in any way, it will be essential to destroy their meritorious karmic bondage. However, the meritorious karma subtypes cannot be destroyed and separated by the usual means of karmic separation like renunciation, restraint and penance. Actually, they only cause their increase. Therefore, the only way to destroy the meritorious karma subtypes is to indulge in sinful activities. To do so in order to destroy the meritorious karma subtypes will definitely hinder the progress towards spiritual emancipation and liberation.
Not only this, the meritorious karma subtypes are purely nondestructive. That is, they do not destroy any of the basic and natural qualities of a living being. Therefore, to consider them as hindrances in the path of liberation is neither logical nor proper.
3. Objection - Auspicious activities are meritorious and merit is not dharma. There is no liberation without dharma,
Positive Non-Violence
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