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stop the movement of a person, so also the longevitydetermining Karma obliges the soul to stay in a particular body, 6. Just as the painter produces different pictures, so also the body-making Karma makes different bodies. 7. Just as a potter makes earthen pots of different sizes, so also the statusdetermining Karma determines status in society. 8. Just as a treasurer generates obstructions in giving money etc. to other, so also the obstruction-generating Karma causes handicaps in charity, in gains and in self-power.
It is no doubt true that Karmas bind the self to mundane existence. Now the question that arises is this : How the self is bound by Karmas? What are the causes that create Karmic bondage in the self? The answer of the Jaina is that it is actions (mental, bodily and vocal) polluted by passions that cause empirical bondage to the self. The passion-free actions do not bring about any mundane bondage whatsoever. When there are no passions, there is no bondage (Bandha). It is passions that mar the spiritual career of an aspirant.
6. Mystical journey of the self from darkness to light, from slumberness to perfect spiritual awakening
The equivalent expressions in Jainism for the word 'mysticism' are: Suddhopayoga45, Arhat and Siddha46 state, Pandita-Pandita Maraṇa47, Paramātmanhood48, Ātmasamāhita state49, Samatvasi, Parādrsti52, Ahimsā” etc. All these expressions, convey identical meaning of realising the transcendental self. The traditional definition of Jaina mysticism may be stated thus : Mysticism consists in the attainment of Arhathood or Siddha-hood through the medium of Samyagdarśana (spirital awakening) Samyagjñana (value knowledge), and Samyakcāritra (ethico-spritual conduct) after dispelling Mithyādarśana (spiritual perversion), Mithyājñāna (perverted Value Knowledge), and
Spiritual Awakening (Samyagdarśana) and Other Essays
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