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THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS OF JAINISM
sub-component and the a2 sub-component respectively. Recall that the Defiling-Component changes the overall structure of the soul; that is, the process leads to a very fundamental transformation of its elements, e.g. change of personality under intoxication. Similarly, we have the second negative component which obstructs the operation of the energy element and which we will call the EnergyObstructing karmic component (b) and denote by b-component. This makes the soul not only work with restricted energy but it becomes an accomplice in the process of karmic fusion with the existing karmic matter as well as in karmic decay. Similarly, we have the third and fourth karmic components, the Knowledge-Obscuring Component (c) and the Perception-Obscuring Component(d) which we will write as the c-component and the d-component respectively. Note again that these last two components only obscure the two soul elements and do not defile the soul.
These four components are operating at every instant and are described as "destructible" (decaying) components in a given lifecycle. We will call them the “Primary-Components”.
The other four components are Secondary Components which refer to the next embodiment and indirectly they attack the freedomlonging catalyst. These components are named “Feeling-Producing" (e), “Body-Producing” (1), “Longevity-Determining" (g) and “Environmental-Determining” (h). We will write these as the ecomponent, f-component, g-component and h-component respectively. These four components react only slowly to the process of fusion and decay at a particular moment, except at the time just before the beginning of the next life-cycle. Table. 4.1 summarizes these components.
Table 4.1. Eight karmic components
Primary Components (Destructive in this cycle)
Secondary Components (Non-destructive in this cycle)
(a) Bliss-defiling
(a) Insight deluding
(az) Conduct deluding (b) Energy obstructing (c) Knowledge obscuring (d) Perception obscuring
(e) Feeling producing
(e) Pleasure producing
(ez) Pain producing (1) Body producing (g) Longevity determining (h) Environmental determining
Although all karmic components operate independently, the defiling component-a plays a central role since it defiles the soul and
