ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 255

does not exist with the good praktis which are discussed in stages of spiritual purification ( g asth na) or mysticism doctrine in the karmagra thas and such texts.
2.4 The Quantity of Space Points (prade as) of Karma. The j va assimilates karma matter, which is within its own space points, called prade as, (infinitely small space of the j va which can be grossly compared to a pixel in a photo) and not matter lying outside of them, just as fire only seizes inflammable material which is lying within its reach. Therefore every part of the soul is filled with karma particles, which if the necessary conditions are fulfilled, adhere to the va just like dust to a body besmeared with oil. The j va seizes a karma particle simultaneously with all his parts, because an exceedingly close connection exists between all the prade as of a j va, as with the links of a chain.
The Karma particles absorbed by the J va develops into the 8 species of the Karma, as food consumed at a meal changes itself into blood and other constituents of the body. The shares, which fall to the 8 m la-praktis, differ from one another; their measure corresponds to their sthiti. The part following to m la-prak tis is then further divided among the uttara prak tis. Thus the extent of the prade abandha of the different praktis does not depend on ethical factors, as with sthiti and rasa bandhas but upon mechanical ones.
3.0 Concept of Ba dha (bondage). Sa vara (stopping influx) and Nirjar (dissociation) of Karmas
3.1 Karmic Bonding (2) Karmic bonding may be described under four heads:
ii. iii. iv.
Bonds (nature and definition) Kinds of Bonds Bondable (Aggregates) and Bonder j vas
Bonding requires association of at least two entities. The bonders must have the necessary properties for bonding. Bhagavati indicates presence of an adhesive (sneha) between the j va and karma particles to lead to bonding. However, material karmas and non-material soul cannot have bonding together.
In current science, the atoms bind together due to opposite charges with necessary internal and external energy for bonding. They have been called as 'smooth and rough' in scriptures with lightning as their example. The material karmas and worldly j vas should also have these properties. The free karma particles are very powerful, but a large amount of their energy is spent during their conversion into bondable karmas. Still, they have sufficient energy to cause continuous j va-karma bonding. The worldly j va's association with karmas is already charged. These karmas particles are charged as described in scriptures:
3.1.1 Theories of Bonding Currently, there are many theories regarding karmic bonding, some traditional and some recent based on scientific experimentations. The first one has developed from time to time based on factors of bonding and nature of karma and j va while the latter are the results of developments of atomic theory.
In the first instance, Jainism was taken as an ascetic religion. All its theories were based on their spiritual progress. Accordingly, the first theory involved bonding due to activities emerged from physical and social possessions. The theory postulates that
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All activities are sinful and they bind karmas. Activities and Karmas are synonyms. The activities (mental, speech or physical) emerged from passions; attachment and aversion etc result in binding karma.
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0