Gommatasara Karma Kanda - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Gommatasara Karma Kanda" (Part I), based on the provided pages:

Overall Purpose and Scope:

Title: Gommatasara Karma Kanda (Part I)
Author: Shri Nemichandra Siddhanta Chakravarti
Editor/Translator: Rai Bahadur J. L. Jaini, M.A., Bar-at-Law
Publisher: The Central Jaina Publishing House, Lucknow (India)
Year of Publication: 1927
Publisher's Goal: To publish sacred books of the Jainas, this volume (Vol. VI) focuses on the "Karma Kanda," which is a scientific analysis of "Evil" or "Sin." It complements the "Jiva Kanda" (Vol. V), which deals primarily with the Soul (Jiva).
Core Subject: The Karma Kanda details the material and self-forged Karmic fetters that bind the soul. It describes the "matter and manner of this bondage" to guide the soul towards freedom and bliss.

Key Jain Concepts Introduced:

Six Substances (Dravyas):
- Jiva (Living/Soul): Possesses consciousness, power to attend, and knowledge.
- Ajiva (Non-living): Devoid of consciousness, attention, and knowledge. It comprises:
  - Pudgala (Matter): Tables, chairs, bricks, stones, etc.
  - Dharma (Principle of Motion): Auxiliary for motion of souls and matter.
  - Adharma (Principle of Rest): Auxiliary for cessation of motion.
  - Kala (Time): Causes aging, renewal, and continuation.
  - Akasha (Space): Provides location for all substances.
- The text emphasizes that these six are the fundamental substances of existence.
Attributes (Gunas):
- Sámánya-guna (Common Attributes): Found in all substances, essential for their existence. Six principal common attributes are: Astitva (Is-ness), Vastutva (Functionality), Dravyatva (Changeability), Prameyatva (Know-ability), Agurulaghutva (Individuality), and Pradeshatva (Spatiality).
- Vishesha-guna (Special Attributes): Distinguish one substance from another. For example, Jiva has Knowledge and Conation; Pudgala has Touch, Taste, Smell, and Color.
Modifications (Paryaya):
- These are changes in attributes, representing birth (Utpada) and decay (Vyaya). The essential attributes of a substance remain constant through modifications. Substance, Attribute, and Modification are three inter-pervasive aspects of reality.
The Embodied Soul:
- The soul (Jiva) is found mixed with non-living matter (Ajiva) in the universe. Death signifies the departure of the soul from the lifeless body.
The Seven Tattvas (Principles):
- Jiva (Soul) and Ajiva (Non-soul) are the first two. Pudgala (Matter) is the most important Ajiva.
- The text outlines the core Jain process of mundane existence and liberation:
  - Ashrava (Inflow): Attraction of karmic matter by the soul's mental, vocal, or bodily activity.
  - Bandha (Bondage): When attracted matter becomes bound to the soul.
  - Samvara (Stoppage): Stopping the inflow of karmic matter through pious attention and right conduct.
  - Nirjara (Shedding): Gradual shedding of already bound karmic matter.
  - Moksha (Liberation): Total separation of the soul from all matter.
Matter (Pudgala):
- Described in various classifications: gross-gross to fine-fine, and also from a molecular perspective (23 kinds of molecules).
- Five Bodies of a Mundane Soul: Audarika (physical), Vaikriyika (fluid), Ahara (assimilative), Taijasa (electric), and Karmic. These are all material.
Karmic Matter and its Inflow (Ashrava):
- Caused by the vibratory activity of mind, speech, and body, especially when coupled with passion.
- Sámparáyika (Mundane Inflow): Leads to bondage.
- Fryápatha (Transient Inflow): Occurs in higher spiritual stages without leading to bondage.
- 39 Kinds of Inflow: Categorized by causes like senses (5), passions (4), vowlessness (5), and 25 kinds of activities (detailed in the text).
- Differences in Inflow: Caused by intensity of desire, intentionality, dependence on substances, one's own position, etc.
Inflow of the Eight Karmas: The text then details the causes for the inflow of each of the eight primary karmas:
- I-II. Knowledge and Conation-Obscuring: Caused by depreciation of scholars, concealment of knowledge, envy, obstruction, denial of truth, etc.
- III. Feeling (Vedaniya): Pain-bringing (Asata) is due to pain, sorrow, repentance, weeping, deprivation of vitality, etc. Pleasure-bearing (Sata) is due to compassion, charity, self-control, austerities, forgiveness, contentment, etc.
- IV. Deluding (Mohaniya): Right-belief-deluding is caused by defaming the Omniscient, Scriptures, Saints, Religion, etc. Right-conduct-deluding is caused by intense thought-activity from passions.
- V. Age (Ayus): Hellish age by excessive worldly activity and attachment; Sub-human age by deceit; Human age by slight activity and attachment; Celestial age by right-belief, self-control with slight attachment, etc.
- VI. Body-Making (Nama): Bad body-making by crookedness and wrangling; Good body-making by straightforwardness and humility; Tirthankara-body-making by meditation on 16 specific matters related to purity of belief, reverence, vows, knowledge, apprehension of misery, charity, austerity, saintly service, devotion, and observance of duties.
- VII. Family-Determining (Gotra): Low family by speaking ill of others, self-praise, concealing others' good qualities; High family by praising others, self-denunciation, etc.
- VIII. Obstructive (Antaraya): Caused by disturbing others in charity, gain, enjoyment, etc.
Bondage (Bandha):
- Causes: Wrong Belief (5 kinds: Ekanta, Viparita, Samshaya, Vinaya, Ajnana), Vowlessness (12 kinds), Carelessness (15 kinds), Passions (4: Anger, Pride, Deceit, Greed), Vibrations (Yoga - 15 kinds).
- Kinds of Bondage: 8 main kinds (Knowledge-obscuring, Conation-obscuring, Feeling, Deluding, Age, Body-making, Family-determining, Obstructive).
- 148 Sub-classes of Karma: The text meticulously lists the sub-classes for each of the 8 main Karmas, detailing their nature, number, and classifications. The sub-classes are then analyzed based on their duration, fruition, and the stages (Guna Sthana) where they bind, cease to bind, or operate.
Quantity and Duration of Bondage:
- Quantity (Pradesha Bandha): Karmic molecules enter and stay with every Pradesha of the soul.
- Duration (Sthiti Bandha): The maximum durations are provided for different Karmas, ranging from 30 crore x crore Sagaropama to 33 Sagaropama. Minimum durations are also given. The intensity of fruition (Anubhága) is also discussed, stating that good Karmas result from mild passions and bad Karmas from intense passions.
Stopping of Inflow (Samvara):
- Produced by Gupti (Preservation - 3 kinds), Samiti (Carefulness - 5 kinds), Dharma (Observances - 10 kinds), Anupreksha (Meditation - 12 kinds), Parishaha-Jaya (Subdual of Sufferings - 22 kinds), and Charitra (Conduct - 5 kinds).
Shedding of Karmic Matter (Nirjara):
- Savipáka Nirjara: Natural maturing and shedding.
- Avipáka Nirjara: Hastened shedding through contrary actions or ascetic practices.
- Tapa (Austerities): External (6 kinds: fasting, eating less, vow about food, renunciation of delicacies, solitary dwelling, mortification of body) and Internal (6 kinds: expiation, reverence, service, study, giving up attachment, concentration).
Liberation (Moksha):
- Achieved when all karmic matter has left the soul, leading to the Pure Soul (Siddha) or Liberated Soul.
The 14 Spiritual Stages (Guna Sthana):
- The text describes the progression of the soul through 14 stages, from Wrong Belief (Mithyatva) to Vibrationless Omniscience (Ayoga-Kevali).
- For each stage, it details which sub-classes of Karma are bindable, cease to be bindable, and are operable, providing a complex table illustrating this progression.
Vows (Vratas) and Stages of Householder Life (Pratimas):
- The text elaborates on the 14 stages, starting with faith (Darshana) and progressing through various vows (Vrata), worship (Samayika), fasting (Proshadhopavasa), abstinence (Sachitta-tyaga, Ratribhokta-tyaga), celibacy (Brahmacharya), abandonment of worldly engagements (Arambha-tyaga), and preparations for monastic life.
- The five main vows (Ahinsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Aparigraha) and their associated meditations are explained.
- The text also details the 12 vows for householders (5 minor vows, 3 Guna Vratas, and 4 Shiksha Vratas) and the 5 defects or partial transgressions to be avoided.

Key Themes and Emphasis:

Scientific Analysis of Karma: The text presents a detailed, almost scientific, classification and analysis of karmic matter, its inflow, bondage, duration, fruition, and shedding.
Causality: Emphasis is placed on understanding the causes (vibrations, passions, wrong belief, carelessness, vowlessness) of karmic bondage.
Path to Liberation: The ultimate goal is Moksha, and the book provides the framework for understanding how the soul is bound by karma and the methods (Samvara and Nirjara) for breaking these bonds.
Interconnectedness of Concepts: The text consistently links substance (Dravya), attribute (Guna), modification (Paryaya), karma, and spiritual stages, demonstrating how they all interrelate in the soul's journey.
Practical Value: The editor, J. L. Jaini, highlights the practical value of studying karma philosophy for diagnosing and curing individual and societal ailments, suggesting it can be tested and potentially verified by science.

Structure of the Text (Part I):

The "Contents" page indicates a structured approach:

Preface
Introduction (covering Six Substances, Attributes, Modifications, Embodied Soul, Seven Tattvas, Matter, Karmic Matter, Inflow, Bondage, Stoppage, Shedding, Liberation)
Chapters:
- Chapter I: Nature of Karmic Matter
- Chapter II: Bondage, Operation, and Existence of Karmas
- Chapter III: Various divisions of existence places or gradations of existence (Sattva Sthana Bhanga)

This summary covers the essential concepts and the detailed analysis presented in the provided text of the Gommatasara Karma Kanda (Part I).