ESSENCE OF JAINISM
By Manubhai Doshi
Chapter 5: THEORY OF KARMA AND CYCLE OF REBIRTH
We have seen that the reasons of our comfortable or uncomfortable situations lie
in the activities undertaken by us during this or earlier lives. This
automatically assumes the theory of rebirth. It is the law of nature that we
reap as we sow. This reaping does not necessarily occur in the same life. The
Law moreover is not restricted to the physical activities. It applies to our
persisting tendencies and instincts as well, even though they may not be
translated into action. Whatever thoughts we may relish, even in the midst of
mountains or within a remote cave, would have their consequences. No one can
escape them. Appropriate consequences of our physical activities and of mental
attitude are invariably extended to us. It is not possible to deceive the
nature. Consequences have to be borne sooner or later and no one is immune
therefrom. This law of Karma in spiritual science is not different from the law
of cause and effect or that of action and reaction in physical sciences. In
spiritual field its scope is extended to the realm of emotions and feelings as
well.
This law of Karma and theory of rebirth need not be brushed aside as a fancy of
spiritual thinkers. Recent psychological research bears testimony to their
validity. The modern psychologists have been increasingly veering to accept it.
Dr. Alexander Cannon during his experiments of age regression observed that the
causes of his patients phobias lay in earlier lives. Reasons for such ailments
in many cases could be traced back even to the Roman period. After surveying the
results of 1382 reincarnation sittings, as he calls them, he writes as under in
his book entitled :The Power Within. "For years the theory of reincarnation
was a nightmare to me and I
did my best to disprove it * * * and I have to admit that there is such a thing
as reincarnation. It is therefore only right and proper that I should include
this study as a branch of psychology, as my text bears witness to the great
benefit many have received psychologically from discovering hidden complexes and
fears which
undoubtedly have been brought over from past lives.
This study explains the scales of justice in a very broad way showing how a
person appears to suffer in this life as a result of something he has done in a
past life through this law of action and reaction known in the East as Karma. *
* * A person cannot see why he suffers one disaster after another in this life,
yet reincarnation may reveal atrocities committed by him in lives gone by."
We can consider ourselves fortunate that we could obtain, as part of our
heritage, what science has been revealing now. Most of us have, in background of
mind, the consequences of what we have been doing
now. That helps us in restraining our emotions and we can stay more or less
tolerant in adversity. We do not tend to react very violently even when hurt
physically or otherwise. It is therefore worthwhile to examine the impact of
this theory of Karma for the broad spectrum of society
If every one knew that one day he is surely going to bear the consequences of
whatever he does or thinks, no one would dare to indulge in any thing that would
hurt others. All conflicts and wars, disputes and violence, enmity and
vengeance, parochialism and selfishness would come to an end. If one ponders
rightly, he can
realize that hatred, jealousy etc. may or may not hurt the person against whom
they are aimed at, but they surely hurt the user; since his sense of discretion
and equanimity gets obscured by being overcome with defilements. No one in that
case would harbor any evil and everyone would abide by the code of conduct that
is beneficial to the society. Even if someone gets any way hurt by others, he
would be inclined to consider it as a consequence of his own past evil Karma.
Instead of adversely reacting, he would therefore bear it with
a sense of equanimity. The world would in that case turn into a sort of
paradise.
Unfortunately all people are never going to realize it and the living beings
have to bear the brunt of evils generated from passions and different types of
evil instincts. The seers have brought out the
truth that every being is governed by the inviolable law of Karma. Realizing
that meritorious deeds would be ultimately helpful in pursuit of happiness, one
can try to ensure ones own future well-being by making use of his ability and
resources for the benefit of all. The nature has left to us whether to abide by
that law and stay
happy by extending happiness to others or to learn the lesson hard way by
undergoing the miseries and pains arising from evil Karmas.