A Peep into Jainism by Late Shri Khub Chand Jain

Religion may be defined as the Science of Bliss. It proceeds on the principle of freedom of will and furnishes a complete explanation of the whole misery and suffering of being. It also prescribes a certain unfailing remedy for conceivable forms of woe.

The field of enquiry falls under even heads or ultimates of knowledge or principles called Tattavas.

1) The deliverance of the Soul from the power and forces of darkness of evil being the end in view ,the first thing to know is the nature of that which is to be freed-whether it is, or is not, capable of being liberated? The point or subject for study, therefore, is the nature of the soul is our fist tattav ( rRo )

2) The next thing to know is the nature of the material of which the forces tha are enemical to the well-being of thelive ( tho ) are composed. This gives us our second tattva i.e. ajiva ( vtho )

3) How does the ajiva approach the jiva? How is it converted into and obstruct the forces? How cna its further inflow he stopped? How to destroy the existing forces? Are further points for investigation. Accordingly the third tattava is termed asrava (inflow of mater into the soul)

4) The fourth is bandha (the generation) of forces from the inflowing matter.

5) The fifth is Samvaa ( the stoppage of the inflow)

6) The sixth is Nirjana (the destruction of the existing forces)

7) The seventh is Moksha (liberation)

The above seven principles with Punya and Papa (Merit and demerit) are known as nine padarthas (categories). Briefly, the Jiva is defiled by ajive which flows asrava in it, and is transformed by combining with it into powerful forces bandha, destructive of its natural attributes. The stoppage (Samvara) of this influx and the destruction (nirjiva) of the existing forces lead to liberation (Moksha).

To put it differently and show of all technicalities we may say:

The embodied soul is in the grip of matter and incapable of functioning as a pure unhampered spirit. Freedom, called salvation, is obtained through true religion, which in a practical scientific way, enables the crippled slave of matter to regain its natural fullness and Divinity. True happiness and bliss, escape from births and rebirths and attainment to the perfection and glory of Godhood follows the loosening of the grip of karmic matter, which has gained mastery of ourselves.

The doctrine of Asrva (influx of matter into soul) Bandha (bondage0 are to be found in the Bible as is evident from the following questions:--

“Save me, for the ‘waters are come in unto my soul.’ Sink in deep mine, where there is no standing, where there is no standing, where the floods overflow me.”