“Words may be few, but their feelings are infinite” – this is the law of the universe. Just like an ocean fits into a pitcher, even a small visual can hold infinite joy and knowledge. Today’s episode — Karma Bondage — dives deep into the super-science of karma in Jain philosophy.
Karma Bondage: A Scientific Lens
You’ve all studied science. And in science, we learn that any reaction or change is of two types:
- Physical (Temporary) – e.g., water turning into steam, which can return to water.
- Chemical (Permanent) – e.g., milk turning into curd, which cannot revert to milk.
In the same way, karma’s effect on the soul is like a physical change, not chemical. The soul doesn’t permanently change; its essence remains pure. Just like water retains its properties even as it becomes vapor, the soul stays unchanged at its core despite being bound by karma.
Thus, karma bondage is not a chemical reaction. The soul is merely surrounded by karma, which temporarily hides its true nature — like steam covering the water’s surface.
Why Karma Bondage Is “Super Science”
School science felt boring. But this science — the science of karma — is logical, practical, and unopposable. No debate required. It’s perfect accounting.
Karma is just recording and storing every action you perform through mind, speech, or body. There’s no notebook in the hands of Yama (the god of death); the ledger is within your soul itself. Whatever you do, gets recorded — immediately, precisely, and justly.
But how?
The Four Types of Karma Bondage (The Recording Mechanism)
Karma records in four ways, every time an action happens:
- Prakriti Bandh (Type of Karma):
What kind of action was it? Did you hurt someone? Did you help? Based on that, karma of different categories binds:- Vedaniya (pain/pleasure),
- Mohaniya (delusion),
- Antaraya (obstacle), etc.
- Sthiti Bandh (Duration):
For how long did you hold the emotion or thought? Did you hate someone for 30 seconds or 30 years? That determines how long karma stays. - Ras Bandh (Intensity/Stickiness):
How deep was the emotion? Did you act out of mild irritation or intense rage? The deeper the feeling, the “stickier” the karma becomes. - Pradesha Bandh (Volume):
How much karma mass sticks to your soul? Depending on the situation, karma can attach in huge volumes, especially in hellish conditions or highly meritorious acts.
Illustrative Examples
- Negative Karma (Paap):
A beggar asks you for help. You shoo him away harshly instead of politely refusing. That becomes paap karma — recorded with intensity (Ras), duration (Sthiti), and high mass (Pradesha). - Positive Karma (Punya):
You offer food, shelter, and help the beggar uplift his life. You do it with love, despite others’ objections. That becomes punya karma — deeply meritorious, long-lasting, and voluminous.
In both cases, your intention, emotion, and behavior define the nature of karma you attract.
Does Regret Change Karma?
If you do wrong but genuinely regret it later — it helps.
For example, you hurt someone and later repent — your karma’s effect might still manifest (e.g., physical injury), but you may receive support or solutions (e.g., a prosthetic hand).
But if there’s no remorse, karma hits fully — with no support or help in return.
Karma as the Ultimate Accountant
Karma is the perfect accountant of the universe.
It doesn’t forget.
It doesn’t forgive.
It doesn’t get confused.
Whether it’s paap or punya, karma maintains perfect accounting.
You always receive exactly what you’ve earned — no more, no less.
Conclusion: The Path to Awareness
This is the super-science of karma bondage — logical, intricate, and awe-inspiring. Every moment, karma is recording our actions. Every reaction is stored, with perfect clarity.
This knowledge isn’t just philosophy. It’s science at the deepest level — soul science.
Even though this was only a 15-minute clip, it contains an ocean of insight. Let this understanding awaken a desire in you — to explore more, to go deeper into Jain Dharma, and to truly discover the boundless truth of the soul.