$JES 904 Compendium of Jainism (Jain Academic Bowl Manual 3rd Edition)

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

Page 92

PHILOSOPHY
B10 - Punya and Pap Karma
The Punya karma acquired by these virtuous activities will provide positive or favorable circumstances such as healthy human life, good social status, long life, and spiritual teachers to enhance spiritual growth further. Using one's Punya one should continue to do virtuous activities without any expectation of reward, power, and fame. This awareness will reduce or eliminate ego (Kartä Bhäva) and other vices like attachments and aversions. Once all vices are eliminated, a person does not acquire any new karma but eliminates old karma through Nirjarä and ultimately attains Keval-jnän and hence liberation.
Since virtuous activities acquire punya karma and if we believe that all karma provide hindrance to attain liberation, then one can easily conclude that Jainism negates virtuous activities. It seems that this belief and associated logic are not the correct interpretation of Jain Karma philosophy. The proper way to interpret Karma philosophy is as follows: Jain philosophy states that
• Only Mohaniya karma is responsible to acquire new Karma. • Also in our spiritual progress, only Mohaniya karma is completely removed first before any other
karma is completely removed. Once Mohaniya karma is removed, all other remaining karma become powerless and they cannot stop a person to attain liberation. To destroy Mohaniya karma one needs human life, healthy body, compassionate nature, and
spiritual surroundings. Only virtuous Karma can provide such an environment to the individual Hence one should conclude that Jainism encourages everyone to continue to do virtuous activities
without any ego and expectation of reward throughout our life. With the elimination of all ego, one does not have any desire for the result of his virtuous activities and accepts the outcome as it is. This is a true nature of a spiritually advanced person.
In summary, on the path of spiritual progress, one eliminates sinful activities and adopts virtuous activities in the initial stage. Later one continues doing virtuous activities but eliminates ego, expectations, and other vices. Without the presence of ego or desire, a person cannot acquire new Mohaniya karma but continues to eliminate old karma and ultimately attains liberation.
Page 92 of 398
Compendium of Jainism - 2015