Understanding and Control of Kashayas

Author(s): Anop Vora
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 11

scriptures, this emotion stays with a person all the way to one of the higher rungs of the spiritual ladder (10th Gunasthänak).
Gandhiji once said that there is enough in the world to satisfy every one's needs but not enough to satisfy every one's greed. Greed begets human desires; the greater the number of desires, the higher the mental turmoil and dissatisfaction. There is just no end to the craze and madness to seek more and more. The result is dissatisfaction, stress, tension and mental and health problems.
The cure prescribed the religion is CONTENTMENT, by limiting one's desires to a more reasonable level, and maintaining a balance between one's greed and needs.
Types of Nokashäyäs
As stated earlier, the scriptures have identified 9 Nokashäyäs. They are quasi kashayas that help generate the primary emotions. They are:
1. Laughter based upon ill intentions. 2-3 Emotions of happiness or unhappiness are founded upon the experience of
favorable or unfavorable circumstances that in turn are the product of our past karmas (Shätä and Ashätä Vedaniya Karmas). JAINISM recommends the use of equanimity in the face of either situation. Grief: Distress and anguish shown at the loss of loved ones or the glorious
past 5 Fear: Fear of authority, enemy, next life, loss of wealth, loss of life due to an
accident, not being able to earn a livelihood, death, and loss of reputation. 6 Disgust and Contempt 7-9 Sexual passion towards female, male and a bisexual person.
Kashäyäs, Nokashäyäs and the Karmic Cycle
The Jain religion regards the entire spectrum of Kashayas and Nokashäyäs as nothing but the product of past karmas. Here is the way the cycle occurs:
1. When the past karmas come to fruition and an event occurs, people react with
emotions rather blindly. Their emotional reactions are normally based upon
ignorance and wrong beliefs (Mithyatva) and thus on an impure state of mind. 2. Emotions generated are of two broad categories at this stage: Rag and Dwesh
or attachment and aversion.