Jain Karma Philosophy - Punya (Meritorious) and Päp (Sinful) Karma

[RGM]

Introduction

In Jain philosophy, karma are classified in many different ways. They
are classified as Ghäti or Aghäti karma depending upon whether they
subdue the qualities of the soul or create physical environment of a
living being. The same karma are also classified in a different way
into Punya and Päp karma categories. Also in Jain literature we come
across other types of Karma like Dravya Karma, Bhava Karma, and
Nokarma. However this article is not discussing these three types of
karma.
Acquiring Karma and its Consequences

Jain philosophy explains that Karma is a matter which is made up of
very fine and subtle particles that one cannot see or feel by any
physical means. The entire universe is filled with such particles (we
need to believe it by faith only).
When these karma particles attach (bondage) to the soul is called the
bondage of karma. Such bondage occurs for certain duration only. We
do not have any karma attached to us forever. In general the bondage
of karma occurs due to soul's Mithyätva (illusion or ignorance),
Avirati (vowlessness), Pramäda (spiritual laziness), Kashäya (anger,
ego, deceit, greed etc.) and Yoga (activities of the mind, body, and
speech).
When the time of their attachment is over then this karma will create
an environment surrounding to the soul and then will separate from the
soul. The soul who is surrounded by such environment may feel
pleasure or pain based on the surroundings created by these various
types of karma and hence we acquire new karma. This process occurs at
every moment in our life. This way under normal circumstances we will
never be free of karma.
Types of Karma

Ghäti Karma

Ghäti karma subdue the quality of a soul namely; infinite happiness,
infinite knowledge, infinite perception or vision, and infinite power
or energy. It is divided into four categories.
Mohaniya Karma
Deluding Karma obscures blissful nature or happiness of the soul
Jnänävaraniya Karma
Obscures infinite Knowledge of the soul
Darshanävaraniya Karma
Obscures infinite Perception of the soul
Antaräya karma
Obstructs infinite Power and Energy of the soul


Aghäti karma

Aghäti karma are non-destructive to the qualities of the soul but are
responsible for the creation of physical body, physical mind, and
social environment, life span. It is also divided into four
categories.
Vedaniya Karma
Creates Favorable or Unfavorable Physical Environment for the Soul
Näm karma
Physical Body and Physique Determining Karma
Gotra karma
Status Determining Karma
Äyu karma
Life Span Determining Karma
The above 8 categories of karma are divided into many (about 120) sub-
categories. The same sub-categories are also categorized differently
into Punya and Pap karma categories.

Punya Karma

We acquire Punya or meritorious karma when we perform or reflect upon
virtuous activity with or without a feeling of self-satisfaction and
accomplishment. When the Punya karma mature and produce the result,
they will create favorable environment which may bring happiness,
comfort, and satisfaction to the living being.

Pap Karma

We acquire Pap or sinful karma when we perform or reflect on any non-
virtuous work associated with violence, dishonesty, stealing, and
unchastity, attachment to worldly objects, anger, conceit, deceit,
lust, revenge, and impure thoughts. When the Päp karma mature and
produce the result, they will create unfavorable environment which may
bring misery, discomfort, unhappiness, and dissatisfaction to the
living being.

Relationship among Ghäti, Aghäti, Punya and Pap karma

All Ghäti karma subdue the qualities of the soul and hence all four
categories of Ghäti karma are classified as Päp or sinful karma.
Only Aghäti karma which are responsible for the physical environment
of a living being are classified as the result of Punya karma or Pap
karma.
· Certain sub-categories of Aghäti karma produce a human life,
a healthy body, high social status, and a longer life span are
considered the result of Punya or virtuous karma.
· Certain sub-categories of Aghäti karma produce an unhealthy
body, a shorter life span, low social status, poverty, birth in hell,
or as an animal, insect, or in a vegetative state or similar
categories are considered the result of Päp or sinful karma.
In summary all Punya Karma are Aghäti karma while Pap karma belongs to
both Ghäti and Aghäti karma.
Discussion on Ghäti, Aghäti, Punya and Pap karma

Under normal circumstances, the environment created by Päp or sinful
karma are not conducive to the spiritual progress of a soul because it
produces an unhealthy body, a shorter life span, low social status,
poverty, birth in hell, or as insects, animals etc.
Only the environment created by Punya karma are conducive to attain
higher spiritual state because they result in human birth, healthy
body, spiritual education, a longer life span and so on.
Also without a human life, healthy body, and spiritual education one
cannot attain Vitaräga state (a spiritual state beyond attachment and
aversion) and hence Keval jnän (infinite knowledge) and Liberation.
Thus Punya karma are very essential in the attainment of liberation.
Jain philosophy states that at every moment, a person acquires 7
categories of karma (all 4 Ghäti karma and 3 Aghäti karma - except Äyu
or Life span karma) due to soul's continuous reflections and
activities of body, mind, and speech. Once in a life time soul
acquires all 8 types of karma, because Äyu karma of the next life is
acquired once in a current life time.
If we think in terms of Punya and Pap karma, we can conclude at every
moment a person may acquire either all Pap karma or both Punya and Pap
karma by reflecting and doing non-virtuous or virtuous activities.
In other words a person continuously acquires all types of Pap karma
or some Pap karma and some punya karma because every person is always
under the influence of Mithyätva and/or Kashäya until one attains very
high spiritual state known as Vitaräga state (Spiritual state of 12th
Gunasthänak).
Hence at every moment, we should be very alert and try our best to
acquire maximum Punya karma and minimum Pap karma. This can be
accomplished by continuously reflecting and doing virtuous activities
and reducing our Mithyätva and Kashäya.
A Word of Caution with Regards to Punya Karma

While doing virtuous activities, many a times due to our ignorance of
reality (Mithyätva) and ego (Kashäya), a person feels (reflects) that
because of his good effort or action many people are being helped or
he is a big donor to build a temple or hospital. He receives a high
social status and he takes great pride of this status.
Such a person acquires some Punya or virtuous karma for his good deeds
but at the same time he acquires maximum Pap karma because he has done
the good work under the influence of Mohaniya karma to gain power and
fame.
Hence Jainism warns that any virtuous activity done under Mithyätva
and Kashäya state ultimately results in a sinful activity to that
person even though other people and animals, and environment are being
helped.
The Mohaniya karma (Mithyätva and Kashäya together) is the single most
dangerous karma because only due to this karma one cannot attain
Vitaräga state and hence Keval-jnän and liberation.
Summary

One can conclude that in order to attain liberation, Jain philosophy
teaches us that we continuously need to do virtuous activities like
helping others, be compassionate to all beings, strict vegetarian
(Vegan) and protect the environment. However while doing virtuous
activities, one should remain very alert and should not get trapped by
fame, power, high social status or frustration of not accomplishing
the result.
Never think that Jainism teaches that Punya is karma and all karma
hinder the soul in attaining liberation. Punya is a good Aghäti karma
and do not hinder any qualities of the soul but provides a favorable
environment for the soul to attain liberation (similar to good
cholesterol).
Only Ghäti karma and in particular Mohaniya karma hinders the soul in
acquiring the Vitaräga State. Once one attains a state of Vitaräga by
removing all Mohaniya karma, the other three Ghäti karma become
powerless and they are destroyed within 48 minutes without any effort
and a person attains Keval-jnän. A Keval-Jnäni person attains
liberation at the end of the current life and no fallback occurs
during this time.
The Mohaniya karma can easily be removed if we possess human life,
healthy body, good spiritual education, and all our minimum basic
necessity of life are satisfied. Only Punya karma can provide such
environment.
Hence the essence of Jain philosophy is very clear. In order to
attain liberation, one should continuously do virtuous activities
without any expectation of the fruits of his work. This will provide
more conducive environment to eliminate Mohaniya karma which is the
only karma that hinders a person in attaining liberation. Without the
presence of Mohaniya karma, all other karma become powerless.

by
Pravin K Shah
JAINA Education Committee
Raleigh NC USA
+1-919-859-4994