Essential
Tendency of Jiva
We have already noticed that Jiva and Ajiva constitute
the whole universe; we have also taken note of five categories of Ajiva,
namely, Pudgala, Dharma, Adharma, Akasa and Kala. It is the union of Jiva
with karmic forces of Pudgala which causes the cycle of birth, death and
rebirth. It is the cardinal belief of Jainism that the essential tendency
of every Jiva is to go up and progress. It is like a hollowed gourd which
when put under deep water has a tendency to go up and float over the water
surface if it is not smeared by weighty earth. When the self is heavily
smeared by various karmic matters it is not able to go up and remains
sub-merged in the waters of Sansara (worldly life); but as and when it
gets lighter by the discharge of karmic bondages which surround it, it
gradually goes up and when totally free from these bondages, it floats
over the surface waters of this universe. The nature of the soul is of
darting upwards.
