Jaina Karmaology

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 61

56 (a) The aphorism 8.2 means that the living being attracts fine particles of mattergy due to passions which are convertible into eight types of Karmas (Aph. 8.4) which undergo binding with the living beings like the transformation of starchy materials into alcohol. Thus, karmas are mattergic by nature and that passions play important role in their tight and loose bondage. (b) The commentary explains all the terms used in the aphorism 8.2 alongwith the utility of each term. (c) The aphorism makes it clear that the karmic bondage is associated with ‘Jiva' (worldly or mattergic living being) and not with other types of entities. The term 'Jiva' means embodied soul with a lifespan. The two types of mattergies could bind each other due to specific charges or properties. The living unit is wettened (positively or negatively) by bonding causes to attract mattergic particles. It is not a principal-subordinate relationship but cause-effect relationship. (d). The bondage means uni-locational Jiva-karma loose or tight association. (e) The term 'bondage' could be explained in terms of (i) instrumental case (ii) accusative case (iii) nominative case and (iv) abstract case. (1) The karmas can be increased or decreased like the grainary. 2. Bhaskarandi points out that the term “Jiva’ in 8.2 indicates three points about karmic bondage : (a) Bondage is associated with mattergic living being. (b) The non-living entities can not bind karmas. (c) The living entity and karma are beginning-lessly associated with each other like the seed and sprouts. 3. The mattergic nature of karmas can be proved by positive and negative inference :
"The karmas are not non-mattergic because they serve and harm the living beings like the atoms or other mattergic ent ities.' 4. Though there are five causes of bonding as per 8.1, but here in 8.2, passions have been specifically mentioned to indicate their prominence in the process over other factors.
The living being becomes passioned due to earlier-earned (in pre-birth or earlier times) karmas and other internal or external factors which cause bonding. Thus, there is a cycle of earlier-earned karmas-+passions ->newer factors+new karmas +passions....