Jainism by Vividus

Author(s): Ramnik V Shah
Publisher: Ramnik V Shah Canada

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'Mukta' (liberated as opposed to embodied). When Karma matter has penetrated the soul, eight kinds of chemical combinations are formed which singly or severally make up the Karmana Sharira (subtle atomic body equivalent to 'aura'), just as food by digestion is transformed into various fluids necessary for the support and growth of the body.
Complementary to these eight kinds of karma are these 'auras', or in Jaina terminology 'Leshyas', subtle colours which are six in number: black, blue, grey. yellow, red and white, and indicate character. (The first three are bad and the latter three are good). Again, it is this Karmana Sharira on the soul which by its weight and colour keeps the soul down into the universe; or else due to extreme lightness of the soul in its pure state, it would fly at once to the highest point in the 'Lokakasha', as far as the existence of the 'dharma' matter would make its own movement possible.
Each particular kind of karma is caused by some action; good, bad, or indifferent of the individual in question; so this karma in its turn produces certain painful, pleasant or indifferent conditions and events which the individual in question must undergo. When this is done, the karma matter is automatically discharged or purged off (Nirjara) the soul. Before all the karma matter is thus purged off, there has to be a stage in the process when all the inflow is prevented (Samvara), though at no time can it be described that only one activity is taking place to the exclusion of all others. There is always interpenetration and the simultaneity of intermittent resting throughout the process. When the purging off goes on without interruption and fresh inflow, all the accumulated karma matter will, in the end, be discharged from the soul and the soul, thus freed, will at once go up (Moksha) in a straight line to the top of the universe (Siddha Shila), where all the liberated souls dwell. Until this happens, the process of influx, binding, and partial purging off go on, whereby the soul is forced to continue its mundane existence. After the death of an individual, his soul, together
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