ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 158

SCHOOL
OF
SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY
स्वाध्याय
which, then, lead to bondage'. Recently Kachhara, Nahata and Mardia have developed bonding theories based on formation of molecules and chemical compounds.
sthiti bandha
STUDIES
3.1.2 Nature of Karmic Bond
There are different opinions about factors in karmic influx and bonding, which are simultaneous processes. Their description is scattered in many places under different contexts and, hence, they vary from 1 to 28. Dhavalā favors four causes with 57 subvarieties. Some other texts like Tattvärtha-sutra follow five causes with 72 varieties. In fact, ignorance, different kinds of volitions and wrongness are the basic causes. On detailed analysis we find that almost all kinds of internal and external activities lead to bondage. The degree of bondage depends upon their nature and intensity. The scriptures give specific details under spiritual stages. One must see that all the causes are extensions of only one causes or wrongness. The jīva or empirical soul is taken as karma bonded since beginningless time.
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
According to the moral value of their activity and corresponding also to the kind of karma, which they bind - the jīvas can be divided into six categories. The first is characterized by the possession of the greatest sinful, while each following one improves and the last is finally standing in the state of highest attainable purity. The attainment to one of these six classes shows itself in the soul externally; the soul, which is free by nature from all distinctions perceptible by the senses, receives colour, taste, smell and touch. In short it becomes a defined type, which distinguishes from the other souls although not recognizable by the senses. This type of soul is called lesya. The different lesyās are distinguished according to different colours, which they give to the soul namely black, dark blue, gray, fiery red, lotus pink and white. Lesya is considered to be a product of passions (kasayas) or activity called yoga in the Jain texts or a product (pariņāma) of 8 karmas by different authors.
3.1.2.1 Kinds of Bondage
Dhavala and other karma texts have classified karma bonds in many ways including the four major divisions under different heads namely:
Space point bond pradesabandha
Species bond
prakrtibandha
Intensity bond
rasa or anubhagabandha
Duration bond
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