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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
antaraya karma-This refers to the obstructions created in the enjoy, ment of the forthcoming experiences and objects.1
Antaraya karma is of one antarmuhurta duration in the least and at the maximum it is of thirty crores of crores sāgaropama.
The soul has the inherent characteristics of moving upwards (urdhvagati), just as a gourd (tumba) has the capacity of floating on the surface of water. But if the gourd is smeared with clay it becomes heavy and it does not flow. Similarly, due to the encrustations of karmic particles the soul is prevented from going upwards and from purifications; so it gets involved in the wheel of empirical existence, it goes down.
Antaraya karma is concerned with the obstructions of the possibility of getting enjoyment of the possession and the fruits of activity.
The question arises whether antaraya karma is directly related to the external objects and the possession of enjoyment of external objects? For instance, in the possibility of giving charity etc. If there are obstructions these obstructions are due to antaraya karma.
The possibilities of knowledge and other experiences and possessions depends upon the naturality and appropriateness of occasion which has reached the stage of maturity of experience. We may call this labdhi. Labdhi is the appropriateness of fructification. For instance, even when there is a donor to give charity and also when there is the preparedness of accepting charity, by an individual or an institution, it may not be possible that the act of charity may materialise due to some other external forces. But when all the forces are favourable for actualisation then charity is given. This is the labani with reference to time and other circumstances. Labdhi, therefore, may be referred to the capacity, the potency and the fructification of realisation. Just as jñānāvaraṇīya karma obscures valid knowledge
1 Sthānanga 2, 4, 105. 2 Uttaradhyayana 33, 19. 3 Jnātā sutra,
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