Jainism a Glimpse

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

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Each of us is responsible to others for our own conduct towards them. We are responsible to ourselves for our conditions. In whatever degrees we are of ignorance, pain, unhappiness, unkindness, cruelty or weakness, it is because since birth and previously in the infinite past, we are and we have been acquiring (Aśrava) and incorporating (Bandha) into ourselves by attraction and assimilations of subtle unseen though real, physical matter (Pudgala). The combination of soul and matter produces energy (Karma) which clog the natural wisdom, knowledge, bliss, love, compassion and the strength of soul and which excites to unnatural action results in species, duration, intensity and degree (Prakṛti, Sthiti, Rasa and Pradeśa).
Karma (Jainism Simplified) :
When the soul indulges in perverse tendencies like attachment, aversion, anger, deception, greed, lust, etc. due to ignorance, subtle atoms of Karma (energy) which cannot be experienced by any of the five senses flow in (Aśrava) of their own and stick (Bandha) into the soul's countless space-points (Pradeśa) forming a "Karmic" body around and imprisoning the soul.
The imprisoned soul from infinite past is impure, like gold ore before excavation. It has to pass through fire and water, before it becomes pure gold. Similarly the soul attracts and discards Karma continuously until it passes through confessions, repentance, penance, self-control, austerity, renunciation, religious deeds, non injury (Ahimsa), etc. till the soul thoroughly gets liberated and becomes pure.
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