Jaina Culture

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

Page 90

KARMA AND LIBERATION
81
into the soul which is always under the pressure of activity. To put it negatively, the influx of karmic particles is not stopped for a single moment until and unless the self is entirely free from all activity. The quantity of the karmic matter acquired by the self depends upon its activity. The matter thus attracted by the self is divided into the various types of karma. The shares that fall to these types differ from one another. The age-determining type receives the smallest part. A greater portion goes to the physique-making type, and the same to the statusdetermining type. More than that falls to the comprehensionobscuring type. The shares of the same quantity fall to the apprehension-obscuring and power-obscuring karmas. Still a greater portion goes to the deluding type. "The greatest of all falls to the feeling-producing karma. The share falling to a main type is further divided into its sub-types in varying degrees. Bondage :
Influx (asrava) precedes bondage (bandha). Just as water flows into the lake through streams, so also karmic matter flows into the soul through the channel of activity. This is called influx. It is of two types: psychical and physical. That modification of consciousness by which karma gets into the soul is known as psychical influx The karmic matter itself which enters the soul, is called physical influx. In other words, psychical influx is nothing but the mental, bodily or vocal activity, whereas physical influx is a peculiar type of matter. The influx of karma is of two kinds: virtuous (punya) and sinful (pāpa). Meritorious activities cause the influx of virtuous karmas, while wicked actions are responsible for the inflow of sinful karmas. Injury, falsehood, stealing, envy etc. are wicked activities. The opposites of these are meritorious ones. How can activity be meritorious or wicked ? That activity which is performed with good intentions is meritorious and that which is performed with evil