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Understanding the mechanics of karma

Understanding the mechanics of karma. Who Governs the Events of the Universe. Who Governs the Events of the Universe? Karma External Circumstances Freewill or Determination Is it Predestined ?. Jain Beliefs. Fundamental Beliefs Soul and Karma exist from Eternity

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Understanding the mechanics of karma

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  1. Understanding the mechanics of karma

  2. Who Governs the Events of the Universe • Who Governs the Events of the Universe? • Karma • External Circumstances • Freewill or Determination • Is it Predestined ?

  3. Jain Beliefs • Fundamental Beliefs • Soul and Karma exist from Eternity • Karma is attached to the Soul from Eternity • The Soul is in ignorant and has wrong belief from Eternity • The Principles governing the successions of life cycles (Birth, Life, and Death) is Karma. • Our wrong belief or Intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech continues to bind us with new Karma. • Mithyätva is the root cause of all Sufferings • Ultimate goal of life is Liberation from all Karma

  4. Eight categories of Pudgals Audärika 2. Vaikriya 3. Ähäraka 4. Tejas 5. Shväsoshväs 6. Bhäshä 7. Mano 8. Kärman Karman is one of these eight categories of Pudgal When Karman particles are bound to the soul resultant effect is Karma.

  5. Karma Karma is a matter (pudgal) and hence it possesses all characteristics of matter No Consciousness / Knowledge Possesses Body Occupies SpaceVery Fine Particles (Smallest Particle In The Universe)Can Not Be Seen/Felt/VerifiedEntire Universe Is Filled With Karma Particles

  6. Some facts about of matter They cannot be destroyed or created They have color, taste, smell and tangibility Karman category of matter when bound to soul are known as Karma When a living being dies, the soul leaves the body only with digestion related (Tejas) and karma related (Karman) matters.

  7. Karma….. • Free karma particles • The karma particles not bounded to a soul is known as free karma particles • Karma or Bonded Karma Particles • When the free Karma particles bind to a Soul is known as bonded Karma or Karma

  8. Karma….. • Effects of Karma • Karma continuously produces its effect on the Soul • It obscures the Soul's natural quality of Infinite Vision, Knowledge, Power, Conduct. Hence Soul possesses limited Vision, Knowledge, and Power, and limited Conduct • Soul with Karma also possesses Body, Life span, Social standing, Pleasure and Pain due to surroundings • The intensity of the effect of Karma depends on the illusion and ignorance of the Soul • One person's Karma does not directly affect the other person or other matter

  9. Self and external circumstances • Upädän Self • Self is a real cause of a result • It is One and Only One in any given process, result, or activity • Nimitta External circumstances • External circumstance is an apparent cause of a result or a catalytic agent (helper) of a process, result, or activity • There can be one or more in any given event

  10. Example • Persons X and Y are involved in a car accident • Person X was at fault • Person Y got hurt • Person Z witnessed the accident • What are the possible reflections of persons X, Y, and Z.

  11. Possible Reflections • Reflection of person X • 1. It was Y's bad karma that he got hurt. I was just there • 2. It was predestined for Y to get hurt • 3 It was just bad weather • 4. I was not driving carefully. Due to my negligence Y got hurt

  12. Possible Reflections • Reflection of person Y • 1. It was my bad karma that I got hurt. Person X was just a cause • 2. It was predestined for me to get hurt • 3. It was X's fault. If he would have been careful I would not get hurt

  13. Possible Reflections • Reflection of person Z • 1. Y got hurt because of his bad karma. Let him complete the suffering so that his karma get exhausted • 2. It was predestined for Y to get hurt • 3. Y got hurt and I should try my best to help him immediately

  14. Accident on Route to Nirvana…. • Scenario : A person meeting an accident with a car • Result : Vibration of soul in association with mind • and body • Events : • Evil thoughts -- Äsrava • Mind constantly thinking -- Bandha • Jo hona tha so ho gaya -- Samvar • Practice equanimity -- Nirjarä

  15. Jain Understanding of Karma, Predestination, and Freewill Jain Reality (Logic) explains that • Five Causes of various magnitude (Samavayi) are always present when an event happens in the Universe • Time (Kal) • Intrinsic nature (Swabhav) • Predestination (Niyati) • Instrumental cause (Nimitta) • External Beings, Objects (External Cause) • Karma (Internal Cause) • Determination, Self-effort, or Freewill (Purushartha)

  16. Ignorant Person's Reflection • Reflects only One Cause which benefits him • X • It was Y's bad Karma or his Predestination (Niyati) that he got hurt • Y • It was X's Negligence (Freewill) that I got hurt • Z • It was Y's bad Karma or his Predestination that he got hurt. Let him complete his suffering so he does not have to suffer in future

  17. Spiritual Person's Reflection • Reflects on one cause which enhances his spirituality or reduces his kashays such as anger, greed, ego, lust etc. • X • It was my negligence • Y • It was my bad Karma or my Predestination • Z • My intrinsic nature is Compassion. I need to help Y immediately

  18. Summary.. • During the action or activity period one should reflect on: • One's own effort for the success (Determination, Free will, Self-effort) • At the conclusion of an activity or action one should reflect on: • If the result is positive • The success was due to the help from others (external Nimitta or circumstances) • If the result is negative • The failure was due to my past karma (internal Nimitta) or • The failure was Predestined • My effort was not adequate

  19. Spiritual Understanding of Predestination • Person needs Freewill, Determination, Effort or Ego to progress from • Illusionary/Ignorant state (1st Gunasthänak) to Samyaktva state (4th Gunasthänak) to Monkshood state (6th and 7th Gunasthänak) • Person can not spiritually progress further without dissolving his/her ego.

  20. To the egoless person, all events that occur in the universe seems predestined This does not mean that events are predestined in reality (all five causes are equally present) Also we continuously change two of the five causes: Freewill and Nimitta (Karma and External situation) Hence the probability of all events are predetermined is very low Only single concept of Predestination violates Jain theory of Five Samaväya Causes (Theory of Karma and Freewill)

  21. Karma and Compassion • Our ignorance or intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with Karma. • During an ignorance state a person is controlled by surroundings (Nimitta). • Hence on the path of spiritual progress the person should be surrounded by proper environment • Religious study • Charity and Social work • Temple going, Tirth Yatra • Good friends

  22. Karma and Compassion … • As spiritual progress occurs, the effect of external causes reduces, and the power of Self increases. • For a totally realized person (Kevali), Nimitta has no effect. • Karma philosophy applies to ourselves, Compassion applies to all

  23. Can we change our Karma? What is stronger, KARMA OR SOUL?

  24. A soul's karma changes even with the thoughts, and not just the actions.

  25. How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.

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