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THE JAIN PHILOSOPHY
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4. The absorption of matter into the soul (bandha).
5. The stopping of the inflow of matter into the soul (samvara);
6. The gradual removal from the soul of the matter already in combination with the soul [nirjara);
7. The complete removal of matter from the soul, or in other words the absolute liberation of the soul (moksha).
If merit (punya] and demerit (papa), the results produced by the varying combinations of soul and matter, be considered as separate principles instead of being included, as they are here, under bandha, there will be nine principles. Some maintain that there should only be two principles—[1] soul and [2] everything that is not soul; the other principles being readily included in either of these two; but, as it is here our purpose to consider the two conditions
of soul, viz. embodied and liberated, we must enume. rate at least seven, if not nine.
Souls in their mundane condition are combined with non-soul or matter; we have, to consider the path by which matter comes towards or flows into the soul -[asrava]; the way in which these two, matter and soul, combine with each other [bandha). Hence, in order that the soul may be finally and absolutely liberated,
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
