Epitome Of Jainism: Law Of Conscious Evolution

Jainism believes in two fundamental elements - animate and inanimate. It does not believe that it is from inanimate that the animate world has developed or vice versa. These two elements have their independent entity and are eternal.

Man is a highly developed conscious being. In the practical aspect of his progress, nine element work concomitantly. Nine elements are:

1. Jiva - Soul conscious entity.
   
2. Ajiva - Unconscious entity.
   
3. Punya - The karmic matter attracted by the auspicious actions of the soul and which bears good fruits.
   
4. Papa - Karmic matter attracted by the inauspicious action of the soul, which results in bad fruits.
   
5. Asrava - The causes of the inflow of Karmas. They are five:
   Perverted attitude (Mithyatva)
   Non-renunciation (Avirati)
   Negligence (Pramada)
   Passions (Kashaya)
   Physical activities (Yoga)
6. Samvara - Stoppage of inflow of Karma.
   
7. Nirjara - Annihilation of Karma through penance, meditation, studies, gustatory restrictions etc.
   
8. Bandha - Accumulation of Karmas binding the soul.
   
9. Moksha - Natural state of the soul; separation of alien matter from the soul.

Among the nine, the first two are the main factors and the rest are the instrumental and non-instrumental elements in the working of final emancipation.

Punya and Papa are afflictions. Moksha is the complete cessation of affliction and Samvara and Nirjara are the means of complete cessation.