Karma in Jainism

Karma in Jainism is not fate and not a moral ledger kept by a god. It is understood as an actual substance - subtle particles of matter that adhere to the soul through action, speech and thought, and that obscure its natural qualities of infinite knowledge, perception, bliss and energy.

Jain doctrine classifies karma into eight principal types, four that obstruct the soul's qualities and four that determine the conditions of embodied life, and describes precisely how each is bound, how long it lasts, and how it may be shed. The mechanisms matter: asrava is the influx of karma, bandha its binding, samvara the stopping of further influx, and nirjara the shedding of what has already accumulated. Liberation is what remains when all of it is gone. This is why Jain practice concentrates so heavily on restraint and austerity - both are treated as physical operations on the soul, not as gestures of piety.

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In-depth guides

  • Jain Fasting and Tapasya — What each fast actually permits, from skipping one meal to the year-long varshi tap - and the reasoning behind them.
  • Pratikraman — 'Turning back' - the structured self-review at the centre of Jain practice, performed daily by some and once a year by many.