Jain Journal 1994 01

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

Page 40

140
JAIN JOURNAL
“As heat can unite with iron and water with milk, so KARMA unites with the self."1
In the TATTVĀRTHASĀRA it is also stated that the mundane self is obscured by KARMIC matter from the beginningless time, and on account of its bondage with the KARMAS, the self is united like the gold and silver when melted together, to become one mixtures. According to Glasenapp, "through the vibration of the particles ... the PUDGALAS are attracted and are ... united themselves to it, they become KARMAN and enter into union with a JIVA more intimate than that between milk and water, than between fire and iron ball's
But it is more appropriate when we say KARMIC matter veils the omniscience of the self as a dense veil of clouds obstructs tho light of the sun. The self has indivisible PRADEŠAS, known as ĀTMAPRADESAS, so the KARMA does not mix with the self as milk mixes with water or fire with an iron-ball owing to their divisible parts. The KARMA covers the essential qualities of the self as the cloud covers the light of the sun.
CLASSIFICATION OF KARMAS Broadly speaking, there are two types of KARMA, physical KARMA (DRAVYA-KARMA) and psychical KARMA (BHĀVAKARMA ). Jaina thinkers differenciated between the two. Physical KARMA is nothing but the particles of KARMIC matter. It is material in nature and enters into the self. The psychical KARMA is mostly the thought activity of mind. The psychical effects and states produced by the association of physical KARMA are known as psychical. The physical and psychical KARMAS are mutually related to each other as cause and effect.
According to the nature of fruition (PRAKRTI), duration of fruition (STHITI ), intensity of fruition (ANUBHĀGA or rasa ) and number of space-points (PRADEŠAS), the KARMAS are classified into eight major types and one hundred and forty eight sub-types.
1 KARMAGHANTHA, Vol. 1, p. 2 2 AMRTACANDRA'S TATTVĀRTHASĀRA, 16-18. 3 H.V. GLASENAPP, The Doctrine of KARMA in Jain Philosophy, p. 3 4 ASTASAHASRỊ, p. 51 (com. on APTAMIMẦMSA). S KARMAGRANTHA, 1. 2.