Universal Message of Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Dulichand Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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Universal Message of Lord Mahāvīra
mind. Multiplicity and unity, definability and non-definability etc., which apparently seem to be contradictory characteristics of reality are interpreted to co-exist in the same object from different points of view without any offence to logic. They seem to be contradictory characteristics of reality and are interpreted to coexist in the same object from different points of view without any offence to logic. They seem to be contradictory of each other simply because one of them is mistaken to be the whole truth. In fact, integrity of truth consists in this very variety of its aspects, without the rational unity of an all-comprehensive and ramifying principle. The charge of contradiction against the co-presence of being and non-being in the real is a figment of apriori logic."
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The Doctrine of Karma
The significant achievement of Tīrthankara Mahāvira's revolution in the spiritual field was the upholding of the concept of karma in place of the Creator. He said that man is the architect of his own destiny and he can rise only by his own efforts and not by the grace of any external agency. God is devoid of attachment; hence there is no need for Him to create this universe, which is beginningless and endless. Every inexplicable event in the life of an individual occurs due to karmas accumulated in his previous birth. Karma is conceived as something essentially material, which gets interlinked with the immaterial soul. As particles of dust get attached to the body when smeared with oil, so does karma get attached with the soul? It is on account of karma that the soul has to suffer and undergo various births and rebirths in the diverse spheres of life as gods, men or animals. Lord Mahāvīra says, "Attachment and aversion are the root causes of karma and karma originates from infatuation, karma is the root cause of birth and death and these (birth and death) are said to be