________________
7
already bound to it, it is called Bondage (Bandha). The Persian word bandah "bound" for man, is literally true in this sense of Jainism. The Christian "Fall of Man" by the absorption of Sin by man, is a parallel doctrine.
If by pious attention and right conduct, the Inflow is stopped; it is Stoppage (Samvara).
The gradual shedding of the matter already bound is shedding (Nirjará).
The total separation of Soul from the bondage of all matter is Liberation (Moksha).
In brief, Jíva or Soul plus Karma or Matter is what it is now in its embodied, mundane condition; and the embodied soul minus all matter is what the Soul will be in its Pure and Liberated condition in Moksha.
Matter.
This matter (Pudgala) is of 6 kinds :
1. Gross-gross, or very gross matter (solid), e.g. a mountain, a pillar of iron, etc. This class of matter when divided, cannot be united without the use of a third something;
2. Gross (liquid), e.g. water, oil, etc. On division this can be united without the intervention of a third thing;
4. Gross-fine, e.g. shade, sunshine. It is interesting to compare this with the corpuscular theory of light in Western physics, before it was replaced by the modern wave-theory of Huygens. It is matter which looks gross or tangible, but cannot be grasped ;
4. Fine-gross, e.g. fragrance, sound, sweetness etc.; the distinction between this and gross-fine being that gross-fine is more gross than fine because it can be seen as light, shade, etc.; whereas fine-gross cannot be seen, although its origin may be gross. The gases of science would be fine-gross. Fine-gross includes all things that may be perceived by the senses of touch, taste, smell or sound;
5. Fine, matter capable of becoming karmic matter. It cannot be perceived by the senses;
6. Fine-fine, matter which has for its atoms the combination of two or more ultimate atoms (paramánu). According to some Saints it is the ultimate atom itself. (Vide Jiva Kanda, Gáthás 602-3. Outlines of Jainism, Pages 21-22.)
From the molecular point of view, Matter is of 23 kinds :
1. Atom, anu varganá.
2. Numerable-atoms-molecule, Sankhyátánu-Varganá.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org