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14
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE JAINAS
His company means recalling Him to one's own mind, contemplating on Him and worshipping Him. His constant and close company has the purifying influence on the worshipper, with the result that the vicious feelings of attachment and aversion start subsiding. This is the prime and real fruit of worshipping God. He expects nothing from the worshipper, nor does He favour him with something. The devotee worships him simply to elevate his soul spiritually. By meditating on his pure qualities the Jaina reminds himself daily of the possibility of attaining the highest state. He purifies his mind by the contemplation of the pure and strengthens his heart for the uphill journey to liberation. Worship, for the Jaina, is neither seeking for mercy nor asking for pardon.
Chapter ? deals with Jaina symbolism and explains the meaning of basic Jaina symbols.
The third part is devoted to the exposition of the karma theory (the doctrine of moral causation).
All systems of Indian philosophy agree on the conception or idea that each action entails its fruit or its result; none can escape the consequences of one's own action. This fundamental idea on which the doctrine of karma is based holds crucial importance in the development of ethical thoughts of the ancient Indians. The Jaina version of it is illuminating in more ways than one.
The term "karman' means mental, vocal or bodily act as also a trace or an impression that the act leaves behind on the soul. In the present context, the term has the latter meaning and consequently the meaning 'the karmic matter constituting the trace.' The trace is material in nature and bears its fruit in future in this or the next life. The karmic matter of the form of trace gets bound to the soul on account of its mental, vocal or bodily acts and gets dissociated from it as soon as it bears its fruit. And it remains bound with the soul till its fruition is fully experienced by it.
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