Man�s life in this world comprises many
stages that he must pass through because of his bondage to Karma.
Salvation is achieved when he becomes enlightened sufficiently and is able
to shed the weight of Karma. The elements involved in the process are:
Soul (Jiva), Matter (Ajiva), the inflow of
fresh Karmic matter (Asrava), Karmic bondage (Bandha), the checking of
Karmic matter (Samvara), the shedding of Karmic matter (Nirjara), and
Liberation (Moksha) In addition to the seven elements listed, there are
two more elements that are fundamental to the Jain view of worldly
existence: sin and virtue or Papa and Punya, The proper content of Jaina
ethics centers upon the two elements of checking and shedding Karmic
matter. It covets the conduct both of the monk and the layman. The whole
purpose of ethics and religious exercises is the attainment of salvation.
This summum bonum is captured in the following adage: �Asrava (inflow of
Karmic matter causing misery) is the cause of mundane existence and
Samvara (stoppage of that inflow) is the cause of liberation. This is the
Jain view; everything else is only its amplification.�
