________________
THE KARMA DOCTRINE
IN THE SWAMINĀRAYAṆIAYAN NAVYAVISISTADVAITA AND IN SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE*
N. M. KANSARA
A desire within the heart to enjoy the sense-objects that have been preciously seen, heard, or indulged in, as also the desire to enjoy those senseobjects that have been previously indulged in, remaining latent as unconscious impression in the mind, is called vēsanā.1
A soul (jiva), in its past lives has performed many karmas, some with sattva-guna predominating, some with rajo-guna predominating, and some with tamo-guna predominating, As a consequence of these karmas, God grants that soul a body of the germinating (udbhijja) category, or a body of the viviparous (jarayuja) category, or a body of the sweat-produced (svedaja) category, or a body of the egg-born (andaja) category. God also grants it the fruits of its karmas in the form of happiness and misery.2
In the case of a devotee whose senses are not drawn towards any of the sense-objects, nor do vicious thoughts arise in his heart, still fails to experience profound happiness, does not feel that he is extremely fortunate and completely fulfilled. Whereas others in the world are constantly being troubled by lust, anger, avarice, infatuation, arrogance, desires and cravings, and are subject to the three types of sufferings, day and night.3
Jain Education International
The good or bad that occurs due to one's previous saṁskāras is apparent to everyone in the world. For instance, the case of Bharataji becoming attached to a deer can be understood to be due to prārabdha. Or, if a poor person were to receive a large kingdom, then everyone would come to know it. That should be known as prārabdha.*
If one's resolve in worship, remembrance, and religious vows remains
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
