what was the primary efficient cause of this whole existence?
Answer
In Jain Dharma, there is no single external creator or primary efficient cause of the entire universe. The cosmos is considered beginningless and endless, and it exists through its own nature.Explanation
Jain philosophy teaches that reality is made of six eternal substances:- Jīva — soul
- Pudgala — matter
- Dharma — medium of motion
- Adharma — medium of rest
- Ākāśa — space
- Kāla — time
These are not created by anyone. They simply exist.
If you mean the cause of our bondage, suffering, and rebirth, then in Jainism the main efficient cause is:
- the soul’s own activities
- passions such as anger, ego, deceit, and greed
- karma, which binds due to these activities
So, in Jain understanding, the world is not made by a single supreme maker. Rather, it functions through the natural laws of substances and karma.
Spiritual Understanding
This view is important because it places responsibility on the soul itself.- We are not helpless victims of a creator’s will.
- Our present condition is shaped by our own past causes.
- Liberation comes through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.
This gives Jainism its strong emphasis on self-effort, restraint, and purification.