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JAIN MATHEMATICS AND KARMAVAD/157
2. Types of Karma
Eight types of karmas are enumerated in the Jain scriptures. Depending upon the effects, some of them act as inhibitors, like Gyanavarniya (Knowledge-obscuring), others act as catalysts, like Mohaniya (Emotive), while the third category of Ayushya Karma is decisive. With respect to the modern psychology and genetics, two karmas, namely, Gyanavarniya and Mohaniya, are of special interest.
2.1. Gyanavarniya Karma & Genes
As the name suggests, Gyanavarniya Karmasomes are inhibiters of knowledge. Most invertebrates do not have mind, whereas the capabilities of mind vastly vary amongst the vertebrates. In humans, we bifurcate the mind as -
• Audayic or Conditioned mind
• Kshyopashmic or Super mind
Conscious or conditioned mind is the one which we have inherited from generations and is representative of animal behaviour. This conduct is mostly guided by our past Karmas as if the program is already coded into the genes. Another higher level mind is Super mind which is representative of a pure being. It acquires knowledge by way of detaching the Gyanavarniya Karma. It results in human awakening.
2.2. Mohaniya Karma & Psychology
Emotive Karmas are responsible for our psychological behaviour. According to the Jain belief, the human passions of fear, anger, joy, sorrow, love, hate etc. are guided by these deluding set of Karmasomes. Whereas, the biologists hold various hormones responsible for them. Neutralisation of these karmas results in piousness and detachment. Mahapragya has deliberated on this issue at length. He writes, “Everyone knows what is good and what is bad, yet it is not always possible to conduct accordingly. On the contrary, it is the bad tendency who wins over the noble one. People often blame circumstances for any unworthy behaviour but the root cause is the activation of Emotive Karmas. This must be understood. Sthulibhadra stayed at Kosha's house in an explicitly passionate environment for four months of chaturmas without even an iota of temptation. This was his capacity to win over the deluding karmas of Moh.”
Onslaught of Emotive Karma results in varied impulses of anger, conceit,
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