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10-PUNYA AND PÄP KARMA
Relationship of Ghäti, Aghäti, Punya and Päp Karma
All Ghäti karma subdue the qualities of the soul and hence, all four Ghäti karma are classified as Päp or sinful karma.
Only Aghäti karma, which are responsible for the physical environment of a living being, are classified as either the result of Punya karma or Päp karma.
Aghäti karma which produce an unhealthy body, a shorter life span, low social status, poverty, birth in hell, animal, or similar categories are considered the result of Päp or sinful karma.
Aghäti karma which produce a human birth, healthy body, high social status, and a longer life span are considered the result of Punya or virtuous karma.
Discussion
Under normal circumstances, the environment created by Päp or sinful karma is not conducive, and sometimes counter-productive, to the spiritual progress of a soul, because the person has an unhealthy body, a shorter life span, low social status, in poverty, and
so on.
The environment created by Punya karma is conducive to attaining a higher spiritual state because it produces human birth, healthy body, good education, a longer life span and so on.
Also, without human life and a healthy and strong body, one cannot attain Vitaräga state (a spiritual state beyond attachment and aversion) and hence, Keval jnän (infinite knowledge) and Liberation. So, under normal circumstances, Punya karma is very essential in the attainment of liberation.
Jain philosophy states that at every moment, a person acquires all seven types of karma (except Life span karma) and once in a life, he acquires all 8 types of karma. In other words, at every moment a person acquires both Punya and Pap karma.
Hence, at every moment, we should be very alert and try our best to acquire maximum Punya karma and minimum Päp karma. This can be accomplished by continuously reflecting and doing virtuous activities.
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JAINISM AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
