Jaina Philosophy and Religion

SR No.: 001604
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nyayavijay
Publisher: B L Institute of Indology
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 500
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Epistemology
File Size: 12 MB

Page 51

Essentials of Jaina Philosophy
23
industrious on account of this karma.
In brief we have treated of karma. The degree of passions with which a soul performs an act determines the degree of stickiness of bondage of the karmic material atoms with the soul as well as the degree of goodness or otherwise of the fruit of the karmic material atoms bound with the soul. At the time of the formation of bondage of the karmic matter with soul, the duration, that is, how long this karmic matter will remain stuck to the soul, is also bound. We have not to understand that the karma rises to give its fruit as soon as it is bound. We all know that crop does not appear as soon as the seeds are sown. Similarly, karma rises to give its fruit after certain period of time since it is bound with the soul. And there is no rule as to how long this process of enjoying the fruit of a particular karma will continue because the bound duration changes according to the changes in the mental states.
Karma is bound not in one way only. Some karma is bound very tight, some tight, some moderately tight and some loose. That karma which is bound very tight is known by the name 'nikācita' in the Jaina scriptures. Mostly one cannot escape from the enjoyment of the fruit of this karma. Regarding other karmas, one can free oneself from them even without enjoying their fruits, if one practises meditation and spiritual discipline.
Let us think somewhat more clearly about the bondage following the inflow.
There are numerous groupings of material atoms. From among them the grouping that possesses the capacity to undergo transformation of the form of karma is received into itself by a soul and is bound by it to its constituent units in a particular fashion. That is to say, even while being non-physical (amūrta) by nature a soul has become akin to something physical since it has been associated with physical karma from beginningless time; and it is as such that it receives into itself the karmic material atoms that are physical. The physical karmic atoms are attracted towards the soul through its mental, vocal and bodily activities; then they are stuck to it due to the unctuousness of passions as are the dust particles stuck to the wet leather when brought there by air. There takes place interpenetration of the karmic material atoms and the units of soul like the interpenetration of milk and water in a mixture of the two. This is called bondage. That the karmic material atoms received by the soul undergo transformation of the form of karma means that at that time four characteristics are produced in them, the four characteristics being nature,