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The Concept of Soul, Karma and
Liberation in Jainism
Prof. K. S. Ramakrishna Rao
Jainism is a kind of realistic and pluralistic philosophy, as it accepts the existence of the eternal world and many ultimate realities. As a religion it unveils the meaning and purpose of life. Its attitude towards other forms of religion is that of non-criticism. It preaches universal tolerance and humanitarianism. Its main contents are: Soul and its transmigration, Karma, bondage and liberation. According to Jaina Philosophy, the world is not created. It is everlasting and exists by the power of its substances, Viz., Soul, Matter, Space, Time, Dharma and Adharma (principle of motion and that of rest).
The essential character of the soul-substance is consciousness and its accidental characters are desire, volition, pleasure, pain etc. The soul possesses varying degrees and kinds of knowledge. At the highest is the perfect soul (mukta-jiva) and at the lowest end, the fettered soul (baddha-jiva). There are two kinds of fettered souls-moving (trasa) and non-moving (sthavara). Five categories of fettered souls are: 1. Ekendriaya having one sense of touch (plants etc.), 2. Dvi-Indriya having the senses of touch and taste (worms etc.), 3. Tri-Indriya having the senses of touch, taste and smell (ants etc.), 4. Caturindriya having the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight (mosquitoes etc.) and 5. Panchendriya having the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing (beasts, birds, men etc.) The Jaina philosophy says that the soul is formless, independent and eternal. It is an agent who knows, acts and enjoys the fruits of its Karma. It manifests itself and others like the light. It pervades the body in which it lives and thus it is co-extensive with the body. But it changes its forms due to its association with Karma-matters.
Karma, subtle invisible substance composed from one of the types of matter which flows into and clogs the Jiva, causing the bondage of life and transmigration, felters the soul. Fruits of its virtuous Karma lead the soul to the heaven of gods and to the birth among men and those of its sinful Karmas to the hell or to the birth
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