Jain dharm ke mool roop se chaar aashay (intentions or attitudes) bataye gaye hain. Ye "Chaar Aashay" hain:

1. Shubha Aashay (शुभ आशय) – Shubh ya sadbhavna se kiya gaya karm, jisme ahimsa, satya, prem, daya, karuna aadi bhavnaayein hoti hain.
2. Ashubha Aashay (अशुभ आशय) – Ashubh ya durbhavna se kiya gaya karm, jisme himsa, jhooth, krodh, dvesh, irsha, lobh, aadi bhavnaayein hoti hain.
3. Mishra Aashay (मिश्र आशय) – Shubh aur ashubh dono ka mishrit aashay, jisme bhale hi kuchh achhi bhavna ho, lekin kuchh buray vichar bhi ho sakte hain.
4. Shuddha Aashay (शुद्ध आशय) – Yeh sabse uchch aashay hai, jisme kisi bhi prakaar ki raga-dvesh ki bhavna nahi hoti, aur atma ki shuddhi aur moksha ki prapti hi uddeshya hota hai.

In chaaron aashayon ka ullekh Jain dharm ke granthon mein milta hai, aur inka uddeshya vyakti ko apne vicharon aur karmon ko shuddh aur uttam banane ki or prerit karna hai.