Soul Science Part 01

Author(s): Parasmal Agrawal
Publisher: Kundakunda Gyanpith

Page 55

Soul Science: Samayasara by Jain Acarya Kundakunda
19
[The Tattva or elements of the path of liberation] - Jīva (soul), Ajiva (non-soul), Punya (virtue), Papa (vice or sin), Asrava (influx of Karma), Samvara (stoppage of influx of Karma), Nirjarā (partial shedding of previously bonded Karma), Bandha (bondage of Karma), and Mokṣa (liberation or complete shedding of all Karma)- comprehended from the real point of view amount to Samyag Darśana. [13]
Annotation
Jiva (soul), Ajiva (non-soul), Punya (virtue), Papa (vice or sin), Asrava (influx of Karma), Samvara (stoppage of influx of Karma), Nirjară (shedding of previously bonded Karma), Bandha (bondage of Karma), and Mokṣa (liberation) are known as nine-elements (Nava-Tativa or Nava-Padartha) related to the path of liberation.
These elements have been described by Acarya Kundakunda in this treatise in various chapters: Jīva and Ajiva in chapter 2 (verse nos. 39-68), Punya and Papa in chapter 4 (verse nos. 145163), Asrava in chapter 5 (verse nos. 164-180), Samvara in chapter 6 (verse nos. 181-192), Nirjara in chapter 7 (verse nos. 193-236), Bandha in chapter 8 (verse nos. 237-287), and Mokşa 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. Jiva (soul) means an eternal substance having attributes of perception, knowledge, etc. Each living being has an eternal soul. To a beginner, Acarya 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 Jīva (soul). All chemicals, photons, phonons, protons, neutrons, electrons, etc., and their combinations such as table, chair, cup, pen, etc., are Ajiva.