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The Jaina Theory of Karma and Current Scientific Views :
(91)
(a) The world is full of invisible karma atoms/molecules of all types
of actions, thoughts, passions, speech, colour etc. like collyrium in
a container in all six directions." (b) Not all such particles could be called karmas. It is only those
karma particles, which have capacities to be associated with the living, are karmas. The quantity and intensity of association is proportional to the activities serving as a magnet, red-hot iron ball
or wet clothes for the karmas to be attached." (c) All karma varganās are 4-touch (hot-cold, positive-negative)
particles in comparison to the 8-touch common particles like food
etc. 18
(d) The nature of karma can be understood in simple terms by the
similes with which they have been narrated. Kumar has compiled from Aştapāhuda (published by Mahaviraji) about a dozen substances to represent its various qualities. It is like a king, enemy, mountain, collyrium, fuel, seed, sand, slag, cycle, poison,
thunderbolt, fetters and waste. (e) The living one has four basic and important characteristics -
knowledge, conation, bliss and energy - all to the infiniteness. 20 He also has ten natural instincts like food, fear, sex, possessions, passions and groupism etc. 2. Here the living one refers to the present worldly life. The karma particles effect the capacity of utilization and enjoyment of these properties through its five types of functions: 22 (i) They obscure, cover, restrict or obstruct the full utilization of
the above capacities and functions. They serve as a covering for the sun or liquor-like intoxication agent for the
consciousness. (ii) They distort or denaturate these capacities. (iii) They obstruct the way of moral/spiritual development. (iv) They cause virtuous and sinful attachments to the living.
They are like fetters for restricting the activities of the living. (v) They serve as material agency to connect the past and future
with present like. This function also serves define karma
canonically. (f) Basically, there are two types of karmas -physical and psychical.23
The material karma vargaņās attaching with the living are
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