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RESURRECTION AND REINCARNATION<br />

M.M.NINAN<br />

psychic karma. The relationship between the material and psychic karma is that<br />

of cause and effect. The material karma gives rise to the feelings and emotions<br />

in worldly souls, which—in turn—give rise to psychic karma, causing emotional<br />

modifications within the soul. These emotions, yet again, result in influx and<br />

bondage of fresh material karma. Jains hold that the karmic matter is actually<br />

an agent that enables the consciousness to act within the material context of<br />

this universe. They are the material carrier of a soul's desire to physically<br />

experience this world. When attracted to the consciousness, they are stored in<br />

an interactive karmic field called kārmaṇa śarīra, which emanates from the<br />

soul. Thus, karma is a subtle matter surrounding the consciousness of a soul.<br />

When these two components—consciousness and ripened karma—interact,<br />

the soul experiences life as known in the present material universe. The karma<br />

particles sticking to the soul cause the soul to be happy or unhappy and affect<br />

the events in the soul's present and future lives. All forms of karma prevent the<br />

soul from attaining final liberation.<br />

Soul immersed in the Karma Particles with varying colors.<br />

"Similar to energy, the soul is invisible. An infinite number of souls exist in the<br />

universe. In its pure form (a soul without attached karma particles), each soul<br />

possesses infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite energy and power,<br />

and unobstructed bliss." (from a Jain Sutra)<br />

• Karma is a physical substance<br />

• This substance is everywhere in the universe<br />

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