Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Boolchand
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society

Page 56

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after becoming a Tirthankara. In Mahavira's view, "the full blaze of omniscience" in the jiva is impossible of accomplishment without the practice of a regulated course of self-discipline and the conquest of karmas. The Karma in Jain Siddhanta is recognised as a substantive force, matter in a subtle form, which builds up a special body called Kārmaṇa-sarīra and which retards the inherent radiance of the soul. "As heat can unite with iron and water with milk, so karma unites with the soul". The kind of matter fit to manifest karma fills all cosmic space, and it has the peculiar property of developing the effects of merit and demerit. Except in final release the soul is always in connection with matter, and the Karma forms the link between the
two.
The Jain Siddhanta recongises eight kinds of karma. (1) ज्ञानावरण which obscures right knowledge of details and prevents our receiving mental illumination. It may not only impede us in gaining true knowledge, but may actually give rise to false and hurtful knowledge and misuse of intellectual powers. (2) aa1a201 which obscures right perception and prevents our having general comprehension of things. (3) àzñî¤ which obscures the bliss-nature of the soul and causes us to experience either the sweetness of worldly pleasures ( सुखवेदनीय) or the bitterness of misery (दु:ख वेदनीय ). In the Jain view, it is not only evil action but also good action that has to be worked off before one can obtain liberation. (4) which obscures the right attitude of the soul towards faith and right conduct and prevents us from speaking and thinking clearly, which in short "bemuses all our faculties." (5) a which determines the length of time a jiva must spend in the form with which his Karma has endowed him. (6) 7 which determines the peculiar body of the soul with its general and special qualities and faculties. (7) which determines the nationality, caste, family, social standing etc., (8) अन्तराय which causes such energy in the soul as obstructs the performance of gecd action when there is a desire
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