Introducing Jainism

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 46

INTRODUCING JAINISM
39
Visua (Universe) Loka
Navatattva (Nine principles) 1. Jiva
2. ajīva
Şatpadārtha (Six substances) 1. Jiva (cetanā, consciousness) 2. dharma 3. adharma 4. ākāśa 5. pudgala 6. kāla
3. āsrava 4. bandha 5. punya 6. pāpa 7. samvara 8. nirjarā 9. moksa
Aloka (ākāśa)
The whole edifice of Jainism is based on this conception of the world.
Jiva is of two kinds : samsāri (mundane) and mukta (liberated). Samsāri jīva (mundane souls) are the embodied souls of the living beings in the world and they are subject to the cycle of Birth. Mukta jīvas are liberated souls and so they will not come to this world again. They are free from the bondage of the world.
Among the samsārī jīvas, man is made up with cetanā (consciousness) and jada (unconsciousness). So long as jaďatva in man remains, he will come back to this world again and again. If jadatva is removed, he will be free (mukta) and will attain nirvāņa.
Āsrava means flow of karmic matter into the nature of self or soul. The Tattvārtha-sūtra (VI. 1-2) says
kāya-van-manah-karma yogaḥ// sa äsravahy/
“Action on the part of body, speech and mind is yoga. (And) that is asrava (influx of karma)."