Soul Science Part 01

Author(s): Parsmal Agarwal
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore

Page 57

Soul Science : Samayasāra by Jain Ācārya Kundakunda
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[The Tattva or elements of the path of liberation] – Jiva (soul), Ajīva (non-soul), Punya (virtue), Pāpa (vice or sin), Āsrava (influx of Karma), Samvara (stoppage of influx of Karma), Nirjarā (partial shedding of previously bonded Karma), Bandha (bondage of Karma), and Mokșa (liberation or complete shedding of all Karma)- comprehended from the real point of view amount to SamyagDarśana. [13]
Annotation
Jiva (soul), Ajīva (non-soul), Punya (virtue), Pāpa (vice or sin), Āsrava (influx of Karma), Samvara (stoppage of influx of Karma), Nirjarā (shedding of previously bonded Karma), Bandha (bondage of Karma), and Mokșa (liberation) are known as nine-elements (Nava-Tattva or Nava-Padārtha) related to the path of liberation.
These elements have been described by Ācārya Kundakunda in this treatise in various chapters: Jiva and Ajīva in chapter 2 (verse nos. 39-68), Punyą and Pāpa in chapter 4 (verse nos. 145163), Āsrava in chapter 5 (verse nos. 164-180), Samvara in chapter 6 (verse nos. 181-192), Nirjarā in chapter 7 (verse nos. 193-236), Bandha in chapter 8 (verse nos. 237-287), and Moksa in chapter 9 (verse nos. 288-307). In addition to these chapters, chapter 3 (verse nos. 69-144) and chapter 10 (verse nos. 308-415) cover other very significant aspects.
It would be appropriate here to describe in short the meaning of these nine elements. Jīva (soul) means an eternal substance having attributes of perception, knowledge, etc. Each living being has an eternal soul. To a beginner, Ācārya explains that instead of recognizing ourselves as human beings having a soul inside, each of us should understand that I am a soul associated with the physical body and experience of a human being. 'I am a soul', 'I am an eternal soul', such concepts have been explained in various stanzas in this treatise in various ways.
Ajiva (non-soul) means a substance which is not Jiva (soul). All chemicals, photons, phonons, protons, neutrons, electrons, etc., and their combinations such as table, chair, cup, pen, etc., are
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