Brief Introduction to Jainism

Author(s): Bipin Doshi
Publisher: Jain Academy Educational Research Centre Promotion Trust

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Soul and Karmic matter Fundamental to Jainism is the doctrine of two eternal, coexisting, independent categories known as Jiva (animate, living soul: the enjoyer) and Karma (inanimate, nonliving subtle particles of matter, termed Karmic matter)
Jiva or souls are intrinsically "What you sow so you reap" pure and possess the qualities of infinite knowledge, infinite bliss and infinite energy, however, these qualities are found to be defiled and obstructed, due to the soul's association with karmic matter over an eternity of time. This bondage or association of the soul with karmic matter is explained in the Jain texts by analogy with gold, which is always found, mixed with impurities in its natural state. Similarly, the pure state of the soul has always been overlaid with the impurities of karmic matter. This analogy with gold further implies that the purification of the soul can be achieved if proper refining is done. Like most of the Indian religions Jains believe in cycle of birth and death and rebirth in any forms of life(From one sensed lives like plants to five sensed lives like human beings, hellish beings or celestial beings) depending upon the deeds/karmas of previous lives.
"Man is the master of his own destiny and no external being like God has any influence on his destiny"