Karm Aur Purusharth - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Karm aur Purusharth" by Mahapragna Acharya:

Book Title: Karm aur Purusharth (Karma and Human Effort) Author: Acharya Mahapragna Publisher: Z_Jinvani_Karmsiddhant_Visheshank_003842.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/229861/1

This text delves into the Jain understanding of karma and human effort, arguing against absolute determinism and emphasizing the interplay of various factors and the crucial role of individual action.

The Relative Nature of Freedom and Bondage:

The Acharya begins by asserting that the concepts of freedom and bondage cannot be understood in absolute terms. We are neither completely free nor completely bound. Both are relative. Any absolute declaration leads to a lack of resolution and the propagation of falsehood. He draws an analogy from Einstein's theory of relativity, which uses the speed of light as a standard, but acknowledges that if this standard were different, all conclusions would change. Similarly, time itself can contract or expand based on relativity.

Limiting Factors and the Illusion of Absolute Karma:

Several factors limit our freedom and increase our bondage: time (kaal), inherent nature (swabhav), destiny (niyati), and karma. Humans are bound by these. However, if one were entirely bound, their individuality and consciousness would cease to exist, rendering them a mere puppet. Crucially, the Acharya debunks the notion that karma is all-powerful and absolute. This is a misconception. If karma were all-powerful, liberation (moksha) would be impossible, and consciousness would be non-existent.

The Limitations of Karma:

Karma has its own limitations. It delivers its results (vipaka) within the confines of its inherent power. Every karma has a time and place for its fruition. For example, the text discusses the darshanavaraniya (vision-obscuring) karma, which causes sleep. The Acharya questions why sleep isn't constant if this karma is always operative. He explains that while the karma exists, its fruition is dependent on specific conditions like dravya (substance), kshetra (place), kaal (time), and bhav (mental state). Different environments or times can influence when and how a karma manifests. Even in hellish realms, where beings experience intense suffering, the absence of sleep is due to the overwhelming pain, not the absence of the darshanavaraniya karma itself. Therefore, karma does not dictate everything; it operates within defined boundaries.

The Misconception of Karma and Fatalism:

The Acharya criticizes the prevalent, mistaken beliefs about karma and fatalism in Indian society. These erroneous views lead individuals to accept suffering, illness, and poverty as inevitable, using karma as an excuse for inaction and a shield for their weaknesses. He illustrates this with a humorous anecdote about a couple's recurring domestic dispute, highlighting how individuals often seek excuses for their actions. The belief that "everything is due to karma" is a dangerous illusion that arises from forgetting the principle of relativity.

The Five Elements (Samavaya) and the True Understanding of Karma:

The text identifies five relative principles that govern existence:

Kaal (Time): A fundamental element of nature.
Swabhav (Inherent Nature): The intrinsic quality of each substance.
Niyati (Destiny/Universal Law): A pervasive, impartial rule that applies to all.
Purakrit (Past Deeds/Accumulated Karma): Actions performed by an individual, consciously or unconsciously, which leave an imprint and elicit a reaction. This is the principle of cause and effect.
Purusharth (Human Effort/Willpower): The present action and endeavor.

Karma and Purusharth are Two Aspects of the Same Principle:

The Acharya clarifies that karma and purusharth are not distinct but rather two names for the same principle. Purusharth refers to the effort in the present, while karma refers to the effort that has already been made in the past. Karma is performed through purusharth, through agency. The first moment of effort is purusharth, and after that moment passes, it is termed karma. All five principles are relative, and none is omnipotent.

Responsibility Lies with Purusharth:

The question of responsibility is addressed next. While time, nature, destiny, and karma influence us, they are not responsible. Responsibility lies solely with the individual's purusharth and agency. One cannot escape responsibility by blaming destiny, nature, or past karma. Accepting responsibility is crucial for self-improvement.

The Role of Consciousness:

The Acharya emphasizes that responsibility is intrinsically linked to consciousness. Factors like bodily chemistry, nervous system, environment, and circumstances influence us, but they are all unconscious and therefore cannot bear responsibility. Responsibility requires awareness, comprehension, and the capacity for action. Our purusharth is connected to consciousness, emanating from it, and carrying the burden of responsibility and its fulfillment.

The Power of Purusharth to Transform Karma (Sankraman):

Drawing from Jain scriptures, specifically the teachings of Lord Mahavir, the Acharya highlights the scientific significance of the sankraman (transition or transformation) principle within karma theory. He argues that karma can be altered, broken, or even pre-poned or postponed. With active and awakened purusharth, karma can be modified. This principle of sankraman, he suggests, is akin to modern biological concepts like gene modification, where altering a fundamental component can transform an entire generation.

The Acharya explains that sankraman is the principle of changing karma atoms. He illustrates this with the scripture (Sthananga Sutra) mentioning four types of karma:

Good karma yielding good results.
Good karma yielding bad results.
Bad karma yielding good results.
Bad karma yielding bad results.

The last two are the core of the sankraman principle, demonstrating how good can emerge from seemingly bad karma and vice versa, driven by purusharth.

Illustrative Examples:

The Story of Two Brothers: One brother, warned of execution by a fortune-teller, becomes vigilant and righteous, thus transforming his fate (the "hanging" was narrowly avoided by a thorn prick). The other, promised a kingdom, becomes arrogant and wicked, losing his anticipated fortune, which manifests as mere coins found in the forest. This highlights how good purusharth can avert negative karma and bad purusharth can corrupt positive karma.
Socrates and the Birth Chart: Socrates, when asked to view his birth chart, famously replied that he had already altered it through his actions. This underscores the power of purusharth to change one's destiny, planetary influences, and even birth charts.
Shakal's Argument with Mahavir: Shakal, a fatalist, argued that destiny dictated everything. Lord Mahavir presented a scenario where a potter's pots were broken by a man. Mahavir questioned why Shakal would hold the man responsible if destiny was the ultimate force. This challenged Shakal's absolutist view and highlighted the role of individual action.

Conclusion:

The core message is that while various factors influence us, purusharth (human effort) is the primary driver of change and the sole bearer of responsibility. By cultivating vigilance (apramad), reducing heedlessness (pramad), and utilizing purusharth in the right direction, individuals can transform their destiny and improve their actions. Embracing our responsibility is the path to refining our conduct and achieving spiritual progress. The text encourages us to experience reality, increase our awareness, and dedicate our effort towards a noble purpose.