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The unique Jaina doctrine of karma
matter and makes inflow (asrava) into the soul. Nayadhammakahão' compares karman to mud. The jiva is like a gourd. When it is coated with mud (karman), it sinks to the bottom of water (hell); when the mud is removed (karma-nirjarā), the gourd floats up (attains liberation).
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So "Karman is the root of birth and death' Uttaradhyayana XXXII. 7. Again karma or action produces results. Karmas are all the causes of sin" Acaranga I.1.1.4.
Intent or motive is not an essential ingredient of all karmic sins in Jainism. Sūtrakṛtānga II. 2. 3 enumerates 13 kinds of karmas or activities which include accidental (aka. smat) sin and sin committed through an error of sight. In the same text II. 4.1.3. Mahāvīra avers " Though a fool does not consider the operation of his mind, speech and body, nor does see even a dream, still he commits sins" and this "there can be is asserted in face of the opposite view that no sin if (the perpetrator of an action) does not possess sin. ful thoughts. speech and fuction of the body..". But Mahāvīra repeats "...there is sin though (the perpetrators of the action) do not possess sinful thoughts..."
As Jacobi emphasises "The doctrine of the Jainas is that karman is the result of every being, even of those whose in tellect or consciousness is not developed, as with the ekendriyas or beings who possess one organ of sense". Kundakunda (1st Century A.D.) in his Pravacanasaras III. 17 maintains that "the sin of himsa is caused by carelessness or negligence...". Umāsvāmi (2nd century AD.) in the Tattvarthasūtram VII.4 suggests that the sin of himsa can be caused by carelessness of speech, thought, in working, lifting or in taking food and drink. In short, karma is "a sort of poison that infects the soul." Thus, while violation of the prescribed code of conduct can be committed unintemtionally, intent, motive and passions affect the duration of karman or the period of operation of its consequences. The means of escape from punarjanma or transmigration is stopping (samvara) the influx of karmic
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