Adhyavasaya (adhyavasāya) means a firm inner resolve or intention to do something. It is the mental phase where a person forms a deliberate plan or decision before acting.

Key points:

• It is an intentional resolve, not the external action itself.
• In Jain thought, intention (bhava) matters for karma as much as speech and body action. A strong adhyavasaya can shape the quality of karma because it reveals one's inner motive.
• It can be neutral or virtuous or worldly, depending on whether the intention aligns with right conduct (anubhāva) and non-violence, truth, and other yamas.
• The Jain scriptures often emphasize purifying the mind and cultivating right intention to minimize negative karmic bondage.

Note: If you want, I can provide a brief, simple example or explain how adhyavasaya is treated differently in Digambar and Śvetambar traditions. You can read more about related topics on Jain Knowledge.