प्रासवानुप्रेक्षा
Summary
The text discusses the concept of āsrava (influx of karma) in Jain philosophy. It explains that the combination of body, mind, and speech activities, driven by passions (kaṣāya), serves as the doorway for the influx of karmic matter. A soul afflicted with passions attracts dense karmic particles, similar to how a cloth smeared with gum (kaṣāya) deeply absorbs the color of madder dye. Just as a weak king is surrounded by an enemy army, or a dim lamp is enveloped by darkness, a soul with passions becomes enveloped by karmas, leading it to fall into an ocean of suffering. In contrast, a soul free from passions experiences śubha (auspicious) āsrava, which becomes a cause for good karma. This auspicious influx prevents birth in lower realms (kugati) and prevents one from becoming a person following wrong paths. Through virtuous actions, a soul accumulates karmic particles that lead to attaining the tīrthaṅkara-gotra (the family lineage of a ford-maker). The text is sourced from the Jain scripture, specifically referencing chapter 11, verses 7.2-8.
Conclusion
The text underscores that the influx of karmic matter (āsrava) is directly tied to the activities of body, mind, and speech, particularly when colored by passions (kaṣāya). A key implication is that while passions bind one to dense karmic layers—like dye setting deeply in gummed cloth—the absence of such passions transforms āsrava into a cause of auspicious bondage. This auspicious influx prevents rebirth in lower states and steers one away from wrong paths. The ultimate outcome is profound: by consciously engaging in virtuous actions, a being accumulates karmic particles that lead to the attainment of the Tīrthaṅkara-gotra, the lineage of ford-makers. Thus, the document reveals that the same mechanism of karmic inflow can either trap a soul in suffering or elevate it toward spiritual leadership, depending entirely on the presence or absence of inner passions.