Readers Questions & Answers:
Question by Ashok Kumar & Ranjana Jain, Corpus Christi,TX:
The concept of 'reincarnation' seems to be 'supernatural' to us. Will you explain it from a rational (common sense) point of view?
Response by Duli Chandra Jain, Flushing NY:
This is an important and interesting question. In a manner, Acharya Umaswati has addressed this question in the following couplet from PRASHAMARATI PRAKARAN:
SWARGSUKHAANI PAROKSHAANYATYANTA-
PROKSHAMEV MOKSHASUKHAM
PRATYAKSHAM PRASHAMASUKHAM
NA PARAVASHAM NA VYAYAPRAAPTAM
[Printed on the inside front cover of Studies In Jainism: Reader 1]
The happiness of heaven is indirect - it is beyond our experience. Thus we may be disinterested in it. The happiness of salvation (NIRVANA) is still more indirect. Hence we may have doubts about it. On the other hand, the peace and calm brought about by religion can be directly experienced right here. We are free to attain this happiness, which is the fruit of freedom of spirit. We do not have to buy it with money. We achieve this happiness by taking a dip in the stream of satisfaction and balanced emotions.
The above couplet of Acharya Umaswati relates to reincarnation in the form of a heavenly being and attainment of NIRVANA. The same thing can be said about reincarnation in any other form such as a human being, an animal or a plant. The concept of reincarnation is indeed indirect &endash; beyond our experience. That being the case, how can one understand it?
Jainism is a rational, logical and scientific religion. Both modern science and Jainism believe that all things and events in the universe follow the laws of nature. Science deals with entities like matter, energy, space and time. Whatever happens in the universe results from the interactions between these entities. According to Jainism, one other entity in the universe is soul. All living beings of the universe have souls. Soul is what makes a living being different from non-living things. All entities of the universe are eternal. Soul is also eternal. Further, the life of a living being depends on the interactions between soul, matter, energy and other entities of the universe. The Jain theory of karma represents these interactions between a worldly soul, the thoughts and feelings of the living being, and material particles called karmas. These interactions between soul and karma are responsible for the cycles of birth and rebirth. This concept is a logical extrapolation of the interactions between matter, energy, space and time, which are all studied by science.
References:
1. How Does All That Happen?, Studies In Jainism: Primer, Lesson 14, pages 24-27.
2. Jain Theory Of Karma, Studies In Jainism: Reader 1, Lesson 15, pages 40-45.
3. Scriptural View Of The Jain Theory Of Karma, Studies In Jainism: Reader 2, Lesson 35, pages 121-126.
4. Reincarnation And Jain Philosophy by Dr. Chandrakant P. Shah, Jain Study Circular, October 1987, pages 3-9.
5. Reincarnation And Hindu Philosophy by Dr. Chandrakant P. Shah, Jain Study Circular, April 1995, pages 15-18.
Question by Hasmukh H. & Nalini Shah, New Philadelphia OH:
How can we get rid of various religious literature, pamphlets, magazines, etc., without doing any ASHATANA (disrespect to sacred items)?
Response by Navin S. Dedhia, San Jose CA:
This question requires deep thinking to find a right solution in today's high tech world, when everything from printing to photocopying to photography to videography is easy. Some scriptures say that knowledge-obscuring (JNAANAAVARNI) karma may result from ASHATANA (disrespect to sacred items) done knowingly or unknowingly.
Traditionally, to avoid ASHATANA a TEERTHANKAR's broken idol is sunk in a deep ocean or in a unused well. When I was in the sixth grade, a monk gave me the assignment to discard his old letters. He warned me not to tear any stamps containing a picture of any living being, including humans. He instructed me to carefully tear the letters into small pieces and drop them into the ocean or a river so that nobody would step on them. This shows the respect we have to accord to religious writings and pictures. This is the reason that many temples in India do not allow photography inside the temple.
In order to minimize ASHATANA, a suitable combination of the following options may be employed:
- Recycle the literature, pamphlets, magazines containing no photos of TEERTHANKARs
- Burn the literature, pamphlets, magazines containing photos of TEERTHANKARs
- Drop all literature, pamphlets, magazines into deep oceans
- Give the material to a library or to others, privately or at various gatherings
In these options, avoid polluting the environment.
Always follow the environmental laws.
Response by Kishor Shah, London UK:
Give the material to someone else who may benefit from reading the material.
Dear Readers,
We greatly appreciate your interest in the Jain Study Circular.
- Directors of JSC