''Samvara'' (''saṃvara'') is one of the ''
tattva
According to various Indian schools of philosophy, ''tattvas'' () are the elements or aspects of reality that constitute human experience. In some traditions, they are conceived as an aspect of the Indian deities. Although the number of ''tat ...
'' or the
fundamental reality of the world as per the
Jain philosophy
Jain philosophy or Jaina philosophy refers to the Ancient India, ancient Indian Indian philosophy, philosophical system of the Jainism, Jain religion. It comprises all the Philosophy, philosophical investigations and systems of inquiry that dev ...
. It means stoppage—the stoppage of the influx of the material karmas into the soul consciousness. The karmic process in Jainism is based on seven truths or fundamental principles (''tattva'') of Jainism which explain the human predicament.
Out of the seven, the four influxes (''
āsrava''), bondage (''bandha''), stoppage (''saṃvara'') and release (''
nirjarā'')—pertain to the
karmic process.
[
]
Philosophical overview
''Saṃvara'' is the first step in the destruction of accumulated harmful karmas. The world or the '' samsara'' is often described as an ocean and the soul as a boat trying to cross it and reach the shores of liberation. The boat is leaking i.e. karmic particles are getting attached to the soul. Hence the first step is to stop the leak and prevent new water from entering the boat. This is ''saṃvara''. Jains assert that emancipation is not possible as long as the soul remains unreleased from the bondage of these karmas. Release is made possible by ''saṃvara''; that is, the stopping of inflow of new karmas, and ''nirjarā''; the shedding of existing harmful karma through conscious efforts.
Means of ''saṃvara''
''Samvara'' or stoppage of karmic influx is achieved through practice of:
#Three ''guptis'' or three controls of mind, speech and body,
#Five ''samitis'' or observing carefulness in movement, speaking, eating, placing objects and disposing refuse.
#Ten ''dharmas'' or observation of good acts like – forgiveness, humility, straightforwardness, contentment, truthfulness, self-control, penance, renunciation, non-attachment and continence.[Bhattacharya, H. S. (1976) p. 46]
#'' Anuprekshas'' or meditation on the truths of this universe.[
#''Pariṣahajaya'', that is, a man on moral path must develop a perfectly patient and unperturbed attitude in the midst of trying and difficult circumstances.][
#''Cāritra'', that is, endeavour to remain in steady spiritual practices.][Bhattacharya, H. S. (1976) p. 47]
See also
*Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
*Karma in Jainism
Karma is the basic principle within an overarching psycho-cosmology in Jainism. Human moral actions form the basis of the transmigration of the soul ('). The soul is constrained to a cycle of rebirth, trapped within the Temporality, temporal ...
*Causes of Karma
The Karma in Jainism, karmic process in Jainism is based on seven truths or fundamental principles (''tattva'') of Jainism which explain the human predicament. Out of those, four—influx (asrava, āsrava), bondage (''bandha''), stoppage (''samv ...
* Tattvarthasutra
References
{{Jainism topics
Jain philosophical concepts