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Ways to Create Punya or Virtuous Karma
* It is generally expected that living beings will attempt to secure release from paap karmas. Importantly,
the Jain religion that living beings must also secure release from punya karmas. In order to secure release from paap karmas, at the first instance we need to build up punya karmas. Eventually we will also have to secure release from punya karmas. Whilst paap karmas are the iron handcuffs, punya karmas are like golden handcuffs. Both are restraints that prevent us from attaining moksha.
Whilst we normally incur attract both punya and paap karmas in the course of our daily lives, punya karmas are important because they ensure that we have happiness, health, wealth and prosperity in our daily lives. How then do we build up punya karmas?
The scriptures have shown us the following nine punya karma-building activities: 1) Anna punya - Feeding hungry living beings 2) Jal punya
- Providing water to thirsty living beings 3) Vastra punya
Donating essential clothing to the needy 4) Sthan punya
Donating of providing land, building or property to the needy 5) Shayan punya
Providing beds bed sheets, comforters etc to the needy 6) Man punya
Auspicious thoughts, wishing success and happiness upon others 7) Vachan punya
an Speech that helps others secure success and happiness 8) Kaya punya
physical activities resulting in success and happiness for others 9) Namaskar punya
**Honouring religious leaders, parents, elders and well-wishers
Karma Nirjara (Elimination)
It is absolutely necessary to eliminate all eight karmas attached to the soul to attain moksha. The soul achieves purity (Siddhatva) only when all karmas attached to the soul are extinguished. Therefore, the karmas attached to the soul (Sanchit) must be detached. The process by which all the karma pudgala attached to soul detaches from the soul is known as nirjara.
* There are two ways karmas can be detached from the soul. One way involves the karma eventuating
and showing its impact in an individual's life. Thereafter, the karma pudgala detaches from the soul. This process is known as Vipaakodaya.
The other way involves the karma eventuating without showing its impact. Here, the soul bears the consequences silently without knowing (Anaayasa) and the karma detaches from the soul. This process is known as Pradeshodaya.
Where living beings act but not with the intention to eliminate their karmas, the karmas eventuate and then detach from the soul in their own time. This is known as Akaam nirjara.
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