In Jainism, one cannot easily know exactly what past-life karma you had. Directly knowing past lives is only described for highly advanced liberated souls or those with kevala jnana. For ordinary practitioners, there isn’t a reliable way to confirm a specific past-life balance of punya (good karma).

What you can observe, though, are the fruits of past karma in your present life. Common signs that you may be carrying punya include:

• Positive life circumstances that feel supportive rather than solely earned by effort (sometimes good health, favorable opportunities, kind people, steadiness in mind).
• Strengths or abilities that come naturally (moral virtues, compassion, self-control, wisdom) that you’ve cultivated over many lifetimes.
• A tendency to experience peaceful, virtuous thoughts and a growing pull toward spiritual practice.
• Fewer accidental obstacles when you are living in harmony with Jain ethics (non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, if applicable, and non-possessiveness).

Important caveats:

• These are not proof of a precise past-life tally of karma. They are general indicators that your karmic bundle may favor virtuous conduct.
• In Jain thinking, how you act now also generates new karma. Minimizing new karmic bondage (ahiṁsā, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha) helps reduce future suffering and promotes spiritual progress.
• If you hear about “reading past lives” or precursors of punya, remember that authentic Jain teaching emphasizes personal effort and purification over speculative knowledge about past existences.

Ways to cultivate good karma going forward:

• Practice ahimsa (non-violence) in thought, speech, and action.
• Be truthful (satya) and uphold ethical conduct.
• Practice non-stealing (asteya) and modesty.
• Observe celibacy or fidelity appropriate to your stage of life (brahmacharya, where applicable).
• Reduce attachment and possessions (aparigraha) to lessen karmic bondage.
• Engage in regular study, meditation, and compassionate service (seva) with humility.

If you’d like, I can explain how each of the five Mahavrata or five fundamental vows helps reduce new karmas and supports spiritual progress.