________________
304
The Unknown Pilgrims
that in the ancient Agamas the word is not used, but each of its manifestations is mentioned by name: krodha, anger, etc.71 The authors have invariably translated kaşaya by: passion, a generic word used to denote a violent emotion. In a number of languages, following the Greek, this word originally bore the meaning of sussering. Other languages as, for example, classical Latin were accustomed to express this type of affective state by words such as: agitation, confusion, tumult.
Because karmic dust adheres to the jiva from all eternity and because, surthermore, this same invisible, extremely fine karmic dust in its primary state fills the universe, the infiltration of karmic molecules into the jiva will be occasioned by yogas, or vibrations, caused by one or other of the passions, cven if their influence is very slight. Thercaster, according to the nature of such passionate activity, karmic matter will assume the form of fixed karman. The activity of a person who is akaṣāya, totally purified from all forms of attachment, produces no karman; this state is enjoyed only by the omniscient.
The passions number four: krodha (anger), māna (pride), māyā (deceitfulness), Jobha (covetousness), in all of which the degree of intensity may be greater or less. 72 These passions operate through the five senses, these senses being, not the cause of the passions, but doors which can permit them a free course. 73
71 Cf. Dixit, 1978, pp. 7; 15.
72 On the subject of the kaşayas in general, cf. AS 1, 3, 4, 1; 4; DS VIII, 3639; SkrS I, 1, 2, 12; 1, 4, 12; 2, 2, 29; 6, 26; SthS 249; 708; US IX, 54; cf. also KarmG I, 17-20; Karmapraksti 40; YSas I, 6-23. certain texts speak of nokaşayas, 9 passions, though the above mentioned 4 are classed as the major passions.
73 Cf. TS VI, 5; the TS here develops the theme further by mentioning other harmful yogas that involve the jiva in a mass of karmic matter, to be purified from which a large number of existences will be necessitated. Contrariwise, the akaṣāya jiva is already on the road towards mokșa. Re victory over the senses, cf. YSas IV, 24-33.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
