Jaina Philosophy Historical Outline

Author(s): Narendra Nath Bhattacharya
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi

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The Sophisticated Stage 159
maintaining some permanent qualities. There are two kinds of characters found in every substance, essential and accidental. The essential characters of a substance remain in the substance as long as the substance remains, and it is through the accidental characters that a substance undergoes change or modification.
The Jain metaphysics, as we have remarked many times, during the course of its growth, has been inextricably blended with ethicoreligious principles. In accordance with the principles mentioned above, the Jiva is conceived as a substance whose essential chracter is consciousness and accidental characters are desire, volition, pleasure and pain which undergo change and modification. Jain metaphysics eventually came to explain how transcendental bondage and release take place, how the doer of an action enjoys the fruits of his action, how performance of meritorious acts and resort to religious practices lead to transcendental release, and so on. Karma in Jainism is of material nature (paudgalika), matter in a subtle form capable of filling all cosmic space. It is the link of union between Jīva and Ajiva. The cause of the soul's embodiment is the presence in it of Karmic matter. This matter acts in eight different ways, and is accordingly divided into eight classes as we have already noticed. It is this that spoils the natural qualities of the soul, knowledge and intuition. Subtle matter ready to be transformed into Karma pours into the soul. As each particular Karma is caused by some act, good, bad or indifferent, so it in its turn produces certain painful or pleasant consequences. According as good or bad Karma matter sticks to the soul it gets itself coloured. The production, fruition and destruction of Karma together with Jiva and Ajiva are the principles or tattavas in Jainism. The influx of Karma particles into the soul (āsarava) can be checked (samvara), discharged and purged off (nirjară) from the the soul. But while some Karma matter is being purged off, other Karma matter continues to pour in. The simultaneous purging and binding processes force the soul to continue its mundane cycle of existence, transmigration and rebirth. By proper efforts, however, Karma may be prevented from taking effect. When the stored Karma is completely purged off and its further accumulation is strongly checked, the attainment of liberation takes place. If deliverance is to be achieved, certain moral codes are to be followed to bring about the reformation of man's nature and prevent the formation of new Karma. This requires faith in the Jina, knowledge of his doctrine and right conduct.