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they are categorised variously; one of which is known as 'Karmana Vargana'. By themselves, these particles of Karmana Vargana remain inert having no capacity to cause any pain or pleasure to the living being. But, just as the passage of electric current through a piece of iron produces magnetism in it, when a living being gets involved in any activity-attitude under the influence of infatuation, attraction or revulsion, the karmic particles in his vicinity are influenced by the vibrations good or bad (instinct, attitude or thought) and there develops a potential in these karmic particles to create conditions that can cause pain or pleasure and they get themselves attached to the soul of that being. These Karmana Vargana particles clinging to the soul are known as Karma in Jain terminology. This karma then carries the mechanism to deliver the consequent effects of the action/attitude like a time-bomb to the individual at their time of ripening in accordance with the law of cause and effect.
The law of Karma explaining in clear terms this unique phenomenon of action and reaction occurring in our lives, has been well incorporated in Jain, Buddhist and Hindu philosophy. Recent research in parapsychology has also provided further evidence supporting its validity. In reply to the query, 'whether it is possible to select the location of one's next birth place ?" the research findings from age-regression experiments suggest that choice of one's next birth-place is not in our hands, but is based on the merits or demerits of life led by the individual in earlier incarnations here on earth or at some other extra-terrestrial locations; the type of physical body and social status to be had in the next life too are predetermined, accordingly.
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Having studied over a thousand case-histories of recollection of previous births under hypnotic trance, Dr. Alexander Cannon reports,
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