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Essence of Jainism
gets a view of his own state of being Paramitma through this inner vision. Feeling of Ārma being Paramatmi and bringing it fully under the pale of self-experience would imply the Jiva becoming Śiva that is Brahman. The Karmaśāstra has accepted, though in a peculiarly different way, the work of revealing this Brahmabhāva. This is because it guides the Jiva to the knowledge of distinction from its illusion of non-distinction or identity between the Jiva and the material world, by taking it on a higher stage of the knowledge of identity between Jiva and Siva. This is just its sphere of activity. Here we also come across a part of the principal motif of Yogaśāstra. It is therefore clear that the karmaśāstra is a mine of countless scientific and philosophical thoughts. This is precisely its importance. Many persons there are, who have no liking towards the calculation of the Kārmic Prakrtis, the excess of their numbers and so on. But what is the fault of Karmasastra in this ? Persons with material vision and that only do not get interested in the incomprehensible and interesting subjects like mathematics, physics etc. Here, what is the fault of these subjects? Fault lies with those who try to comprehend, their understanding. A student of any subject must necessarily go to the very bot.om of a subject in order to get interested in it.
Meaning of the Word · Karma' and its Synonyms
The word "karma' is used in two senses in the Jain Scriptures. The first is the resu't of the nature of attachment and jealousy; this is known as kasāya or Bhāvakarma. The other is typical Pudgals of the type of activity undertaken; these are attaches to the soul on account of kaşaya and are known as Dravyakarma.
For the meaning of the word Karma' in the Jaio philosophy and for similar meanings, non-Jain philosophies use these words Māya. Avidyā. Praksti, Apūrva, Vüsanā. Āsaya, Dharmūdharma, Adssta, Sanskāra, Daiva, Bhāgya etc.
The three words-Mayā (!llusion), Avidyā (nescience) and Praksti (primordial nature) are found in the Vedānta philosophy.
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