Jain Journal 2007 04

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

Page 12

Subhash Chand Jain : A Logical Perspective ofkarma Doctrine
come in contact with the soul. The body of a living being is made of countless number of cells which are pervaded with the soul. The karmic particles, which are much finer than the cells, can penetrate and exit the cells; hence they easily come in contact with the soul.
Third Postulate : The numbers of karmic particles captured by the body cells at any instant, which then come in association with the soul (āsrava), depend on the intensity of yoga.
The body cells are always active and due their activity some of the karmic particles are captured within the body cells. The number of karmic particles captured at any instant depends on the intensity of pulsation of the body cells. The pulsation of the body cells is modulated by yoga which in turn is affected by the degree of volition with which yoga is carried out. If yoga is feeble then the number is small and if yoga is intense then the number is large. Their agitation increases with the increase in the intensity of the yoga; consequently the number of karmic particles which come in contact with the soul increases with the increase in the intensity of the yoga.
Fourth Postulate : The karmic particles coming in contact with the soul transform into different species of karmas. The duration of association of karma with the soul and the intensity with which karma manifests on fruition depend on the intensity of passions (kaṣāya).
It is natural to raise a question on the veracity of this postulate. How do the karmic particles transform into different species of different duration and intensity? The transformation of karmic particles into appropriate species of different durations and intensities is similar to the process familiar to all of us. It is well-known that particles of food ingested by a living being get transformed into different constituents of the body and the amounts and the durations in the body of the various constituents are different. Note that the food particles are inanimate and they have no knowledge about the transformations. The food particles upon associating with the soul acquire the capability of transformation. In a similar fashion the karmic particles upon association with the soul acquire the capability of