Theory of Karman in Indian Thought

SR No.: 011109
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Koshelya Walli
Publisher: Bharat Manisha
Publication Year: 1977
Total Pages: 377
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

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When the true awakening in the form of Samyagjñāna or true knowledge took place, his awakening was complete and he came to be known as Buddha. The awakening in Jaina philosophy leads to perfect realisation or to the status of a Siddha who rises beyond the entire Lokākāśa or the infinite space of world structure, and attains to a position of Siddhi midway between Lokākāśa and Alokākāśa. The Siddha in Jainism represents the perfectly awakened soul free from all karmas including the Aghati karmas. It is a state beyond that of the Tirthankaras even. In this connection there seems to exist a distinction in conception regarding the relative status of the world teacher Tirthankara and the status of a Siddha who is no longer a world teacher or Tirthankara but has risen into perfection. This difference is notable and deserves to be carefully studied. In the Tantric conception of Hindu Culture, the awakening marks the end of the age long slumber of the soul and the beginning of the spiritual life which ends in the divinisation of the soul. For the Tantric view speaks of the age long slumber of the soul as the sleep of the Kundalini Śakti. Its awakening is effected by the divine power of grace from the Guru. The Tantric teachers say that the perfect awakening of the Kundalini results in a total conversion of the human soul into the divine spirit. The whole process of transformation of the human into the divine is heralded by the influx of Suddhavidya or Divine Grace from the supreme soul. As to when this Grace descends one important opinion is that it depends on the maturity of the Anava mala inherent in the human soul from the beginningless past.
The coating of matter which covers the soul is removed by the infusion of spiritual power descending from the Divine Guru. This Coating is always subject to the action of Kāla or time and gets mature under this influence. When the maturity is sufficiently complete, light of grace falls upon it and breaks it away. In this view the awakening of the soul at a particular time and under particular circumstances is co-evel with the perfect maturation of the natural coating in course of time.