Jaina Culture

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

Page 82

KARMA AND LIBERATION
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material. To this objection the Jaina replies: The rise of pleasure, pain etc. is not wholly independent of corporeal cause, since the experience of pleasure etc. is found to be associated with food etc. There is no experience of pleasure etc. in association with a non-material entity, just as in connection with the ether. Thus, it is only a material entity that can produce any pleasure or pain, and not a nonmaterial substance. Because karma produces pleasure, pain etc., therefore, it is material in nature. It should also be noted that it is the soul which is the essential cause of all our experience; karma is only the instrumental cause, Unless karma is associated with the soul, it cannot produce any effect. Really speaking, the karmic matter not associated with the soul is no karma at all.
The entire cosmos is full of karmic matter. The soul which is infected by karmic particles from time immemorial goes. on acquiring new ones while enjoying worldly life. Through the actions of the body, mind and speech karmic matter gets into the self. It is tied to the self according to the strength of passions, viz., anger, pride, deceit and greed. Thus, first of all there is an influx (āsrava) of karmic particles due to activities (yoga). At the same time there are passions (kaşaya) owing to which bondage (bandha) takes place. In the state of bondage the self and karma are more intimate than milk and water. The particles of karma produce various types of effects.
The Jaina tradition distinguishes between physical karma and psychical karma. The former is material in nature, whereas the latter comprises those psychical effects and states which are produced in the soul due to physical karma. The former is the karmic matter that enters into the self. The latter is in the shape of various conscious activities. The physical and psychical karmas are mutually related to each other as cause and effect. As we have already mentioned that the self is associated with karma from time immemorial,