$JES 901 Jainism and Spiritual Awakening E9

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 52

07 - CLASSIFICATION OF DRAVYA KARMA - PRAKRUTI BANDH
Darshan Mohaniya Karma (Faith Deluding Karma): This karma generates delusion (Mithyätva) in the soul's innate nature of Right Conviction and Right Knowledge. It is the most dangerous karma. Because of this karma, a person does not have the Right Knowledge of the self (true nature of the soul) and of the Reality. The person believes in the opposite or false knowledge of reality and of the soul, for example: the belief that the body and soul are one. Proper knowledge implies to having a proper understanding of the true nature of the soul, karma, the bondage of soul with karma, and the way to liberate the soul from karma. To have total conviction in the above knowledge is called Right Conviction or Faith. This state of spirituality is called Samyaktva or self-realization, also known as the 4th Gunasthänak Spiritual Stage. Because of Samyaktva, a person's knowledge (Jnän) and conduct (Chäritra) is called Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. A person's spiritual progress begins from the Samyaktva state. Charitra Mohaniya Karma (Conduct Deluding Karma): This karma partially covers or obscures the soul's original nature of Right Conduct. Due to this karma, a person possesses many weaknesses such as lack of self-restraint, spiritual laziness, and various vices (known as Kashaya) such as anger, ego, deceit, and greed. Hence, one experiences pleasure and pain. After the attainment of Samyaktva, a person puts forth an effort to gradually diminish his weaknesses and moves towards spiritual progress and ultimately, by removing all Charitra Mohaniya karma, he/she attains a passionless or Vitaräga state, also known as perfect happiness or perfect conduct (12th Gunasthänak Spiritual Stage). Jnänävaraniya Karma (Knowledge Obscuring Karma) This karma partially covers or obscures the soul's power of infinite knowledge. After the attainment of Vitaraga state, a person destroys all his Jnänävaraniya karma within 48 minutes and attains Keval-inän, a state of infinite knowledge. Darshanävaraniya Karma (Perception Obscuring Karma) This karma partially covers or obscures the soul's power of perfect perception or vision. After the attainment of Vitaräga state, a person
JAINISM AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING