________________
SUTRAS
THE NATURE OF KARMIC BONDS
127
If - by our inclinations and intentions - we (i.e. our consciousness - jiva) stimulate a limited number14 of these karmic molecules, they either cause immediate activity or attach to our interactive karmic field in a latent form to manifest activity at a later time. Without this stimulation by intention and activity which connects our consciousness (jiva) to karmic matter (ajiva), karmic molecules have no effect, even if they take up the same space as our body.
Those karmic molecules attached to our interactive karmic field remain only within the limits of the bodies we inhabit during incarnations. Apart from manifesting activity they have no further function. Individual karma is not stored outside our bodily form.15
The activation of karmic molecules brings their latent energy into a form we can experience. Activation totally dissolves the bond between our consciousness and the manifested karmic molecules. After they manifested activity, the respective karmic molecules cease to influence our life.
SUTRA 2 5 सद्वेद्यशुभायुर्नामगोत्राणि पुण्यम् ॥ २५ ॥ Sadvedyashubhayurnamagotrani punyam (25) The agreeable variations of karma that determine - our feeling of life (vedaniya) - the duration and place of our (future) embodiment(s) (ayu)
14 The type and intensity of our intentions and our drive to experience
something determines how many molecules get stimulated. 15 This states clearly that the image of a mountain of karma lurking
somewhere in the subtle' has no substance to it. All karmic molecules bound to our consciousness are contained within our present body. There exists no mechanism that would store individual karma anywhere outside our personal interactive karmic field.
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org