The Jaina Doctrine of Karma And The Science Of Genetics: ▪ Interaction of Soul and Karma

Jains have gone in extra ordinary depth to describe the theory of karma. The involvement of the soul with karma has no beginning. The soul of saṁsārī has always been impure, just as a gold in gold mine. As gold cannot be purified until it goes through the refinement process, the soul cannot be purified until it goes through proper purification process of achieving perception, perfect knowledge and perfect conduct. As long as the soul is impure, it will continue the cycle of birth and death (the cycle of transmigration - saṁsāra). The impurities are called karmas. There is a continuous interaction between soul and karma. It is very likely that most souls will have endless journey through the cycle of four destinies -

• deva (heavenly beings),
• manuṣya (human beings),
• nārakī (hell beings) and
• tiryanca (animal, plants and all other living beings).

Karma śarīra is made of karma particles, karma particles are pudgalas (non-living, ajīva), like ātmā, pudgala is one of the six basic substances (dravyas); karmaśarīra is the subtle body. It cannot be seen by the most magnificent microscope or any similar instrument, obviously, atoms of kārmaṇ śarīra are the subtlest of all.