The Jaina Doctrine of Karma And The Science Of Genetics: Change of Modes, Re-birth and Genetic Codes

In the nucleus of cells and the existing chromosomes and the genes there on (which are formed by meeting of genetic codes) control the various activities of the organism (jīva) and on these genes and genetic codes, the karma waves exerce its definite control and regulate the life. There is an interesting fact here, that all big or small subtle creatures or plants contain the some genetic codes. ^[32] Thus right from amībā to man, the life deciding fundamental genetic codes are the same. So the theory of rebirth gets force from this principle of same genetic codes.

Perhaps the karma particles controlling the genetic codes regulate them for next birth/modes and give them such a serial system, that the soul migrate in search of further body, having left its own body. According to the karma reward, genetic codes and fate, soul reaches such a body and place and further develop it. This can be interpreted that karmaśarīra of that nature is formed which can easily fit in such created genetic codes which with the soul begins a new life in the new body. Again, having met with the genetic codes of a living being - a cow, a lion, an insect, a bird, or any form of creature can be created. So on the basis of the study of Biology, it appears that every control on the life of every creature, is conducted by the genes and the genetic codes, the fundamental units, which exist in the nucleus of the cells. According to the Jaina karma theory for various destinities and for various bodies, the deciding factor is the karma. It is according to the karma the karmaśarīra is built. Perhaps this karma body possibly control the activities of the genes.

It is this karma-body, which perhaps controls the genes and gives favourable or unfavourable results and decides the forth-coming body. If this hypothesis is enlarged and ratified in a laboratory, it will come to the conclusion that man's thoughts and actions attract such atoms around him which further give us happy or tragic results. Telepathy and Rekī therapies have given such results. Through these therapies one man's thoughts are conveyed to the other man and affect the other man to a great extent. Research done in this direction will be able to prove this biological hypothesis, a complete theory and people incline towards good conduct and healthy thoughts. This theory will help us to lead happy, contented and a balanced life and a new happy contented society will come into existence.^{[ 33]}

In Indian Philosophies there is a maxim "Jaisā karma vaisā fala", "so you sow, so you reap" is popular in Mahābhārata.^[34] It has been said "the way in which a calf searches out its mother from among the thousands of cows, follows her, likewise the karmas done earlier, follow the doer and continue to follow even in the next birth and body like a shadow".^[35] Lord Budha says "so you sow, so you reap".^[36] Lord Mahāvīra says, "Jo jaisā bīja botā hai, vo vaisā hī fala pātā hai" the same maxim "so you sow, so you reap".^[37] Everyman receives the reaward only according to his sinful and good karmas. Lord Mahāvīra says that the karmas done by a man, always follow the doer. The good karmas give the good rewards and the bad karmas, the bad rewards.

"Strange consequences of karma theory" is validated in Indian Philosophy, Minda^[38] the speech and the body, if do the good karmas or the bad ones. So, the rewards are also given likewise. It has been said in Viṣṇupurāṇa.^[39] "O Rajana, this ātmā is neither a deva nor a man, nor animal, nor a tree, but this difference is only due to karma-body and birth". In the Buddhista Philosophy Ācārya Nāgasena in Milinda question has told^[40] - "Rajana the diversities among the jīvas (creatures) is only due to their own karmas. Every living being undergoes the reward of its own karmas. All the creatures found in various status, states and bodies, get according to karmas and take birth in different bodies only due to their karmas." Lord Mahāvīrā says, Gautama! the karma seeds of creatures of this world, being different, create difference in their states. It is not due to the inert state. It is only due to the karma seeds sown by the worldly living beings, various states and many bodies are seen. "The theory of strangeness of karma" in psychology and the "law of variation"^[41] have been compared. The heredity traits are found in germ plasm - stem cell (sex cell). These germ cells are made of many fibers and those are called chromosomes.

One germ plasm contains many chromosomes. These chromosomes have genes. In fact only the genes are the messengers of virtues-vices, they are the cause of virtues and vices. According to genetics every embryo contains 23 chromosomes of father and 23 chromosomes of a mother.^[42] The biologists guess that due to meeting of these all chromosomes-16, 77, 216 kinds of various similarities are expected^[43] Uptill now the science of genetics has reached only upto genes. Gene is one of the component units of this gross śarīra on the other hand, karma is one of the component of our subtle body. Inside this gross body (sthūla śarīra) resides the astral body (taijasa śarīra). The more subtle body is the karma body. It is the most subtle body.^[44] At every limb of this most subtle body, is written the account of our self-exertion of our virtues and vices, of our limitations, of our reactions. The human starts behaving according to the vibrations coming from karma śarīra. Ācārya Mahāprajña writes, "the genes not only bears the genetic traits of its parents, but these also represent the karmas performed by individual. ^[45]

One of the scholars tells us that the controlling elements of our body have been found out and it seems to be a great achievement. Today, through the genetic mapping, all the genes have been found out which control the various states of our traits. We have also discovered all the sequences of genes set up, and everyday new researches in this field are revealing new knowledge about the genes. A group of researches led by Paul Thomasan of the University of California of Los-angles has given dear evidence that intelligence is largely determined by before birth.^[46] Still the whole puzzle-regarding all the traits of human beings, has not been fully solved. But the Jaina karma theory - describes elaborately about the karma particles - and these karma particles determine not only the characteristic of body of jīva but also its happiness, sorrow, perception, age and gotra are also decided.^[47]

Thus the genes and genetic codes to which the scientists are considering supreme of all are the only particles functioning under the karma vargaṇās. It requires a great research, because, where science has stopped only on body characteristics on the other hand Doctrine of karma has gone far ahead of it. The genetic science states only that they have found out those atoms which determine our characteristics, but the Doctrine of karma goes upto the kārmaṇa body and describes many more characteristics. The Doctrine of karma also describes that how āsṛavakarma sticks to soul? and how āsṛava can be detached from soul? It also says that the unwholesome karmas can be removed by austerities and state of joy can be achieved.^[48]

It is sure that mental as well as intellectual merits of genes are necessarily affected by a man's prebirth internal state i.e. nature and also by the after-birth, outer environment such as air, temperature, light, moisture nutrition etc. i.e. nurture.^[49] If two identical twins are kept separately in outer environmental conditions, their body structure, their personality and mental characteristics will greatly differ from each other. Where as both have the same genome structure and similar development of the embryo. These two identical twins, inspite of having similar internal and outer environment, their original form will differ. These factors clearly indicate towards karma - the controlling factors and existence of soul. After a thorough research of Jaina Theory of karma, the described consequences may be achieved.^[50]