Dr. N.L. Kachhara
Evolution is of two types:
- Horizontal evolution. Development of new species having same number of senses.
- Vertical evolution. Development of new species with increasing number of senses.
There are two types of forces of evolution:
- Natural forces. These forces originate in the environment. The mechanisms of evolutions like, linkage, heterozygosity, recombination, gene flow, population structure, drift, natural selection and adoption are of environmental origin.
- Inner forces or forces of consciousness. These forces have their origin in the consciousness and operate through karma body. Mutation belongs to this category.
Natural forces cause horizontal evolution in lower order organisms. For example, under the influence of antibiotic drugs a new kind of bacteria resistant to the drug is evolved.
The ease of horizontal evolution of organism declines with increase in consciousness. It means that horizontal evolution of one sense organism is easy and it progressively becomes more restrained in two, three and four sense organisms.
Both the natural forces and inner forces cause vertical evolution in lower order organisms. Unless requisite level of consciousness is attained, vertical evolution cannot take place.
Inner forces primarily determine evolution in higher order organisms with five senses. Natural forces may have a marginal role in horizontal evolution but not in vertical evolution from animal to humans. Animals with five senses have mind, make choices and so bond karma. Strictly speaking organisms without brain or mind can also have bondage of karma. This happens in some plants and in organisms having one to four senses, but the bondage is relatively small in these organisms, karmas acting through gene mutation may become cause for horizontal as well as vertical evolution. Under the influence of karma a five-sense animal may go down the line and be born as an animal of lower order or become eligible to be a human being. Upward journey here does not mean that the human body is evolved from animal body it only means that the animal soul is reborn in a human body. A five-sense animal can also have infernal or celestial body in the next birth depending on his karma.
The human being has the highest mental power and bonding of karma becomes most important for him. Natural forces have a minimal role in his horizontal evolution and no role in vertical evolution. The vertical evolution (or de-evolution) is entirely determined by karma. A human being having a balance of demerit to his/ her credit may be born as animal of higher or lower order, or as infernal being in the next life depending on the balance. A human being having a merit balance may have a celestial body in the next birth. In case of mix of merit and demerit the soul may retain the human body in next life.
The human being has the highest mental power and bonding of karma becomes most important for him. Natural forces have a minimal role in his horizontal evolution and no role in vertical evolution. The vertical evolution (or de-evolution) is entirely determined by karma. A human being having a balance of demerit to his/ her credit may be born as animal of higher or lower order, or as infernal being in the next life depending on the balance. A human being having a merit balance may have a celestial body in the next birth. In case of mix of merit and demerit the soul may retain the human body in next life.
Evolution is only half the story of a soul. The ultimate destination of a soul is salvation. This important aspect of life has no place in science but is studied seriously in philosophy and psychology. Jain philosophy gives utmost importance to salvation and has deliberated on it in detail.
