Soul Science Part 01

Author(s): Parasmal Agrawal
Publisher: Kundakunda Gyanpith

Page 97

Soul Science : Samayasāra by Jain Ācārya Kundakunda
Each of the bonded Karma stays with the soul till it matures. On maturity it gives its fruit and then it gets detached. The duration of bondage of each Karma is known as Stithi-BandhaSthāna.
Intense Kaşāya (soul-soiling emotions and thoughts) leads to heavy soiling of the soul. It makes the soul highly restless. This characteristic is known as Samkleśa-Sthāna. As against this, the Visuddhi-Sthāna refers to mild Kaşāya.
In the path of liberation, the level of self-restraint goes on increasing. This characteristic is known as Samyama-LabdhiSthāna.
In the scriptures, Jīva are also classified on the basis of senses (one sense, two senses, three senses, four senses, five senses, mind, size, etc.) JīvaSthāna refers to such specifications of Jīva.
The spiritual development of a Jiva is characterized by GunaSthāna. There are 14 GuņaSthāna. For example: an omniscient soul with the physical body is known as Arahanta and is considered in 13th GuņaSthāna; just before liberation and becoming Siddha (the librated soul) the soul attains 14th GuņaSthāna for a very short time. In the first GunaSthāna a living being is ignorant about the Self. A Samyag Drsti house holder having a clear understanding and realization of the Self with an understanding of the difference between the Self and non-Self but not practicing any abstinence (i.e., not observing any formal vow) is considered in fourth GuņaSthāna.
In these stanzas, Ācārya Kundakunda explains that all these 29 characteristics are not of Jiva. All these are the outcomes of Pudgala (Kārmika dust, physical body, and associated things are nothing but the physical matter, i.e., Pudgala). Question: It is easily understandable that the physical body is
comprised of the material substance. Therefore, it cannot be called as a Jiva in the rigorous sense. But what is wrong in saying that the physical body associated with my soul is mine? What about our feelings and emotions? Are these really not ours?