Jain Journal 1969 07

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

Page 44

JULY, 1969
whereas that volume of molecules which could get no passionate reception in the soul is purged out all at once. Thus every retained molecule has a definite reference to a certain point of spiritual attribute. Since the soul is a unified system of infinite attributes, the matter, that has a regular correspondence with certain points of those attributes, would ipso facto reveal a system. Now since the system is established, its various departments endowed with certain definite functions are necessary to exist. It is for this that the Jaina has conceived of a system of karmas that is roughly divided into eight compartments. They are :20
1. Knowledge-obscuring 2. Intuition-obscuring 3. Feeling-producing
Deluding 5. Age-determining 6. Body-making 7. Family-determining 8. Obstructive
(jñānāvaranīya) (darśanāvaraṇīya) (vedaniya) (mohanīya) (āyuh) (nāma) (gotra) (antarāya)
The eight classes as mentioned above are distinguished in the kārmic system of matter, being named after their respective functions in preventing the soul from what it is naturally destined for. Though it is correct to say, in this regard, that matter is not independent in its functioning, it functions truly on the vibratory cells of the soul, yet, from practical or empirical viewpoint, even vibratory cells of the soul are material, for it is the effect of the rise of priorly-bound karmas, which are material. Since relatively the cause and the effect are of identical nature, the whole mundane system caused by the karman is relatively material.21 Though, in real sense, it is material-spiritual when the trend of the soul is downward or rather hostile from self-truth, and spiritualmaterial when the trend is upward or self-restoring, yet in both the cases all-purity is hampered and there is definite reference to material inflow.
Knowledge-obscuring karmas, nevertheless, paralyse the soul's knowing faculty ; likewise intuition-obscuring does its intuition ; for, due to the presence of these karmas the soul remains convinced hypnotically so as to be devoid of knowledge and intuition wholly or partially. Under the pressure of feeling-producing karmas the soul feels pleasure on
20 G.S. (karma kanda), p. 18 ; Ssr., 136. 21 A Kh., to 109 to 112.