Microcosmology Atom in Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 127

Atoin in Jain Philosophy
109
and pain, happiness and miseries of worldly existence. The pudgala of other varganās viz audārika, śvāsa-ucch vāsa, bhāṣā, and manas are also essential for the vital functions of life viz metabolism, respiration, speech and thought respectively, which keep the body and soul together.
Physical karma (dra vya karma) and its spiritual counterpart (bhāva karma) viz, passions and perversities of the soul are thus mutually related as cause and effect, each of the other.' Thus the bound-karma begets sarīra (body), mind and speech and their activities -- physical, mental and vocal - attract karma-pudgala which then is inseparably bound up with the soul.
The entire space is filled up by the pudgala of karma varganā, but only those aggregates which occupy the same space as the jīva can be associated with it. Passions generated by the interaction of karma and contaminated jīva are the cause of attracting the new karma-pudgala. Thus corruption begets corruption., (Emancipated jīva is free from passions and, therefore, does not attract contaminating karma-pudgala).
It should be remembered that the free paramāņus (i.e. the ultimate atoms) do not interact with the psychic existence.
Although the detailed discussion of Jaina Doctrine of Karma is important and interesting, it is, however, far beyond the scope of this book.
1. Astasahasri, p. 51.