by Jayaram V
The worldview of Jainism centers around 9 tattvas or
realities, which are
described in the Tattvardtha Sutra. They are
said to eternal, whatever may be the state of creation.
They are not mental constructs or metaphysical concepts,
as in some religions, but real pheonomena. In Jainism, for
example, karma is an impure substance, not some
metaphysical effect of our actions. In some texts they
are listed as seven. The nine tattvas are:
1. Eternal self
2. Lifeless matter
3. Inflow
of karma onto the soul (asrava)
4. Bondage of the
self due to karma (bandha).
5. Good karma (punya)
6. Bad karma (papa)
7. The blocking of the inflow
of karma (samvara)
8. Separation of the self from
karma (nirjara)
9. liberation (moksha or nirvana)
Six and seven are aspects of five. So in some
descriptions we find only seven tattvas instead of 9.
Of the nine, the first two represent the two eternal
aspects of creation. The middle four (3,4,5,6) represent
the state of bondage and our current state as bound
souls. the last three (7,8,9) suggest the solution or the
way out of the the state of bondage. These nine
tattvas constitute the correct knowledge. Every
follower of Jainism should be aware of thems and
accept them as final
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