Doctrines of Jainism

Author(s): Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi Godiji Jain Derasar Mumbai

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The Doctrines of the Jainas
It is also known as Sailesi, indicating immovability, like that of the King of Mountains. The aspirant stays in this position for a short while only, namely, the period required for the pronunciation of five short vowels. At the end of it the soul shoots up like an arrow till it reaches the top of the universe. It rests there forever in the abode of liberated souls. This is how the search after the soul is consummated.
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One can see from this description that spiritual development means gradual liberation of the soul from Karmic bondage. It is therefore necessary to mention briefly here the nature of bondage, its causes and the means of liberation.
Bondage means the accumulation of Karmic matter by the soul. The latter, when disturbed by certain activities, attracts the atoms of matter known as Karma Varana. These atoms are blended with the soul as water with milk and affect the soul by their chemical action. The question of how a material thing can have a chemical action on an immaterial thing is answered by the Jains on the basis that the soul under bondage is not quite immaterial. It is a blend of mind and matter. The pure soul in the state of salvation is never so affected. The question about the first relation between soul and Karman is ruled out by holding the relation to be without beginning and so not admitting a first moment. This is a common problem which all systems answer in the same way.
This bondage is classified into four types related to its nature, quantity, duration and intensity in fruit: Prakrtibandha-regulating the varieties of Karman accumulated