Book Title: Jainism The Cosmic Vision
Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: UK Mahavir Foundation London

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Page 49
________________ Jainism : The Cosmic Vision is by nature endowed with infinite knowledge, infinite bliss and infinite power. None can torture me, pierce me, cut me, burn me or kill me. Then, why should I have any fear ? 6. Impurity of the body : The body is the receptacle of impurities. It is filled with filthy substances like flesh, blood, excrement, urine, bones, etc. It is the home of diseases. It makes pure things impure. Its beauty is superficial and skin-deep. So having abandoned attachment towards one's own body and other's body as well, one should abstain from doing evil activities for its sake. 7. Karmic Inflow (Asrava) : Asrava means the inflow of Karmic matter into the soul. And secondarily, even the causes that effect the inflow are also regarded as ashrava. These causes are five - (1) Wrong understanding (mithyatva), (2) Nonrefrainment from violence etc. (avirati), (3) Fourfold passion (kashaya), (4) Negligence (pramada); it includes eightfold pride, longing for the pleasure of worldly objects, passions, idleness and indulgence in talks arousing feeling of attachment, (5) Mental, vocal and bodily activities. Karmic inflow is of two types, viz. auspicious and inauspicious. One should stop the inauspicious Karmic influx by abstaining from evil activities, cause the auspicious one by performing virtuous activities, and keep the ultimate goal of absolute self-purification constantly before oneself. 8. Stoppage of the inflow (Samvara) : Samvara means the stoppage of the inflow of Karmic matter. And secondarily, even the causes that affect the stoppage are also called samvara. The causes in point are - (1) right inclination or understanding (sanyaktva), (2) self-restraint (virati), i.e. observance of the vows of the monk or the householder, (3) vigilance or mindfulness (apramada), (4) victory over the afflictions (parishaha-jaya), (5) 32 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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