Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
When an institution becomes corrupted, its knowledge development stops. However, it is true that the soul has a completely independent existence. It is like a light that is different from oil and a vessel. The power by which the body is becoming conscious is different from the inner light. The soul, due to the subtle karmic body, takes on another gross body when the gross body is destroyed. Therefore, knowledge of the soul and non-soul is necessary for spiritual practice. Similarly, the discussion of punishment, non-punishment, action, inaction, etc. is also useful for those seeking liberation.
In Indian thought, the concept of "lok" (world) has been discussed extensively. "Lok" is the basis of all substances in the universe. Lokvad (theory of the world) includes both infinite beings and non-beings. Lok is where dharma, adharma, time, pudgala, and jiva reside. If we look at lok from a holistic perspective, from the perspective of lineage, it is eternal and infinite. No substance can be destroyed, and nothing can be created from non-existence. No one can increase the number of substances even by a single atom. From the perspective of the constantly changing material elements, lok is finite. From the perspective of substance, lok is eternal. From the perspective of elements, it is impermanent. Time is a simple cause in the creation of actions, which is present in the result of every changing substance. It is also changing like other substances. Lok is the space where all six substances are found. Beyond that, only space exists, which is called "alok" (non-world). Because dharma and adharma substances are simple causes in the movement and position of jiva and pudgala. As long as there is harmony between dharma and adharma substances, the movement and position of jiva and pudgala are possible. Therefore, the middle part of the sky, which is shaped like a man, is called lok, which is equal to dharma and adharma substances. Dharma, adharma, and lok are similar in terms of measurement. Therefore, like lok, alok is also one.
The Jain Agam literature has a clear description of jiva and ajiv, which is not found in Buddhist literature. In the Buddhist text Anguttaranikaya, the question of whether lok is infinite or finite is left unanswered by the Tathagata Buddha. He only said about lok that it is composed of five material qualities: form, taste, etc. The one who abandons these five material qualities wanders in the end of lok.
The words "punya" (merit) and "papa" (sin) are very famous in Indian literature. Good deeds are punya, and bad deeds are papa. Punya gives the soul the experience of happiness, and papa gives the experience of suffering. There are two types of punya and papa: substance and feeling. The karma that gives the soul the experience of happiness is substance karma, and the good results of the soul's compassion, kindness, charity, and feelings are feeling punya. Similarly, the karma that gives the soul the experience of suffering is substance papa, and the bad results of the soul's feelings are feeling papa. The Sankhyakarika also mentions that punya leads to upward movement and papa leads to downward movement. The Nainaacharyas have also said that the result of good intentions is heaven, and the result of bad intentions is hell.
Like punya and papa, the discussion of bandha (bondage) and moksha (liberation) is also found extensively in Indian literature. The specific relationship between two substances is called bandha. Thus, bandha is called one here. But it has two types: feeling bandha and substance bandha. The feelings of attachment, hatred, and delusion, etc., which bind karma, are called feeling bandha. And the connection of karma-pudgalas with the soul's regions is substance bandha. Substance bandha is the connection between the soul and pudgala.
**References:**
* Uttaraadhyayanasutra 28/9
* Uttaraadhyayanasutra, Sutra 28/7
* Sankhya-44
* K-Pravachansara 1, 9, 11, 12, 13, 2, 81
* Kh-Samyatsara-155-161