________________
112
Gems of Jainism
besides we want to understand it only so far it is relevant to make us understand the sate and nature of liberation. According to Jainism ‘Soul in Bondage' is the soul that is embodied and is trapped into the cycle of birth and rebirth. Jainism does not say that the bondage is for ever and ever and is eternal. It has a solution too. Here Jainism proves to be quite optimistic, meaningful and aspiring.
The word bondage presupposes - duality or plurality. Here bondage is of Karma. Thus the soul in state of bondage is in opposition to soul in state of liberation. The soul in bondage is not the soul in liberation. The soul in liberation is immortal, eternal, indestructible and even indivisible; potentially all powerful and all knowledgeable. The liberated soul is pure and totally free. The soul in bondage is not this. The soul in bondage is not pure but polluted (or impure) not immortal but mortal, not free but in chains, not powerful but ineffective.
The root cause of bondage is due to soul's union with karma. The karma has polluted soul and has hindered soul's original essential qualities including its freedom and powers. Bondage means Jivātmā the embodied soul, liberated means Paramātmā or Siddhas - the Soul in its pure light. The veil of Karma as per the doctrine of karma, is the cause of births and rebirths. Thus bondage also means Samsāra, and in this sense release or liberation means Moksa.
Regarding 'Bondage state of soul, we should also note that according to Jainism, this state is not the natural state of soul, it is neither a desired state as nobody wants bondage. “The five causes of bondage, are as follows:
Subreption or Unbelief (Mithyātva) Ü. Non observation of the vows and commandments
(Avirati) iii. Idleness or Inactiveness (Pramāda) iv. Passions (Kasāya), and v. Activities (yoga)"13
Jainism discusses in full details the kinds of bondage, nature and duration (Sthiti), intensity and quantity (Rasa and Pradesa) of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
