09 Nov, 2009
The cause of sticky situations in life: Ashrav & Bandh
Posted by: Suraj In: Jain Dharma
At the Jain Dharma Training session this weekend, we took a deeper look at the Nav Tattvas (mechanics of karma, the nine reals) and we focused in on two key areas:
- Jiv: atma, the soul
- Ajiv: the body and all that is not the soul
- Ashrav: the inflow of karma
- Bandh: the binding of karma
- Paap: bad karma
- Punya: better karma
- Samvar: stopping the inflow of karma
- Nirjara: the shedding of karma
- Moksha: our intended final destination, a state of abundant infinite eternal peace.
During the session, the nursery rhyme Row, Row, Row Your Boat worked well as an analogy to understand the Nav Tattvas.
Check out this video sourced from YouTube:
Interesting how this version of the song starts with “I saw three ships come sailing in…” - a convenient gentle reminder that reinforces our understanding of the cause of the inflow of karma:
6.1 The operation of the body, speech and mind is action.
6.2 The threefold action is the cause of the inflow of karma.
- Tattvartha Sutra
Essentially, whenever we think, say or do anything, karma is attracted (ashrav) toward the soul. The strength of raag (like / attraction) or dwesh (dislike / aversion) of that situation determines how strongly the karma is bound (bandh) to the soul.
In next month’s Jain Dharma Training, we’ll be re-visiting Ashrav and Bandh, and will start looking at Samvar (how to stop the inflow of karma) and Nirjara (how the bound karma is shed). It’s taking place on Sunday 13th December in London, so email training@youngjains.org.uk for details.
