Reals on the Jaina Metaphysics

SR No.: 001619
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: Shatnidas Khetsy Charitable Trust Mumbai
Publication Year: 1966
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, Religion, & Epistemology
File Size: 8 MB

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space, obstructed or occupied by one single atom. According to the Jaina thinkers, one Pudgala atom, one Pradeśa or point of Dharma, one Pradeśa of Adharma, one minutest point of Kāla and one Pradeśa of Jiva may remain at one and the same time in one and the same Pradeśa of Lokākāśa or “the filled space”. The Jaina's maintain that the Jīva and the Karma are mixed up ever since the beginningless time. This doctrine implies that every Pradeśa of a Jīva is permeated (and in-formed) by the Karma-pudgala through and through; the soul is thus in a state of bondage; its pure and essential attributes viz;---knowledge, intuition etc. are suppressed and as a consequence of all this, the Jiva is suffering in this painful Saṁsāra or incarnation-series ever since the beginningless time.
(iv) The Anubhāga of Karma: The bondage of a soul is caused by the inflow of Karma. The Karma bondage is acute or weak according as the fruit of a Karma is acute or weak. The Anubhāga-bandha of a Karma is determined by the acuteness or weakness of the Karma-fruit. Anubhāga is the power of Karma to yield a peculiar fruit and is otherwise called Anubhāva.
We have seen that when there is inflow of Karma into the soul, its pure attributes of intuition, knowledge etc. begin to be suppressed and the Jiva moves in the Saṁsāra, born and reborn, suffering griefs and sorrows. The effect of a Karma is in strict accordance with its nature. The inflow, for example, of the knowledge-obscuring Karma obscures the Jiva's power of pure cognition; the inflow of the intuitionobscuring Karma obscures its power of pure intuition and so on. The effect of the suppression of the natural attributes of the soul is bondage, miseries of worldly existence, pain, sorrow, griefs, despair, birth, death and sufferings untold; why mention them? Who has not experienced them?
Right faith, right knowledge and right conduct,-called “the three Jewels”, -reveal the way to liberation. But so tight is the grip of Karma that overwhelmed with woes and vicissitudes as a Jiva is in this world, it would not ordinarily tread the way to liberation. And lots of unfortunates