________________
218 :: Structure and Functions of Soul in Jainism
living beings, they are as good as non-existent. In the absence of the karmic influence, the individual differences become inexplicable. Samantabhadra again observes: If things are accomplished by effort only, effort cannot be held to be determined by karmas or fate. If fate is also determined solely by effort, then effort will become fruitlful in case of all living beings" No living being is absolutely free to choose and act. Such a limitation is felt by every individual and it speaks to the truth of karmic influence.
The concept of freedom or indeterminism may be taken to yield two meanings. Firstly it may stand for creating a situation which balances the effect of the karmas. Karmas alone cannot yield something which is detrimental to their own working. Hence this effort must be due to the soul itself. It is on account of the soul's own powers that it is able to maintain itself against the karmas. The freedom of the soul may be held to lie in this maintenence. Secondly freedon finds its full meaning only in the kṣāyika (destructive) type of conscious manifestations. Such manifestation are determined by the soul itself and hence they may be termed as free. It is self-determinism and is perfectly consistent with freedom. “Determinism in the sense of selfdetermination is not inconsistent with freedom,” as H. Rashdall held. Absolute freedom, as distinct from selfdeterminism, is a meaningless conception.
The Jaina View of Determinism and Indeterminism
Thus the conceptions of freedom and determinism cannot be thought of in isolation from each other. They mutually imply each other. It is said that “liberty and necessity both co-operate harmoniously in the production of every human thought. Every human life and conduct therefore is but a reconciliation between liberty and necessity.? Mundane personalities are the joint effects of the soul's powers and
1. Rashdall: Theory of Good and Evil, II, p. 309 2. Nahar and Ghosh: An Epitome of Jainism, p. 384
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
