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  • What is the difference between samprayika kriya and iriyapathik kriya
  • author Posted by
    Jain Follower

    What is the difference between samprayika kriya and iriyapathik kriya

    10 months ago 177

    In Jain philosophy these two terms belong to the topic of āsrava (influx of karma). Very simply:

    ---

    1. Sāmparāyik āsrava / kriyā

    • Meaning: Influx of karma with passions (kaṣāya) like anger, pride, deceit, greed – i.e. with rāga–dveṣa (attachment–aversion).
    • Effect:
    - This karma sticks to the soul and becomes real bandha (bondage). - It extends saṃsāra (cycle of birth and death).
    • Cause:
    - Activities of mind, speech and body done with likes–dislikes, carelessness, violence, lies, greed, etc.
    • In Tattvārtha Sūtra this is called sāmparāyika āsrava, and its sub‑divisions include various kriyās (activities) like mithyātva-kriyā, prāṇātipātikī-kriyā, etc.

    So, samparāyik (sāmparāyik) = harmful, passion‑coloured influx causing bondage.

    ---

    2. Iryāpathik āsrava / kriyā

    Here two closely related usages appear in Jain texts:

    (a) Iryāpath āsrava (general type)

    • Meaning: Influx of karma that arises only from movement/activity,
    without passion (no rāga–dveṣa), in a very pure, careful state.
    • Effect:
    - Such karma does not really bind the soul; it is called “non‑affecting”. - Whatever karmic particles come in, go out again quickly; they do not extend saṃsāra.
    • Typical for:
    - Very pure monks or arihants, who move only with utmost awareness and no inner disturbance.

    So, iryāpathik āsrava = neutral/pure influx caused by passionless movement, not leading to real bondage.

    (b) Iryāpath‑kriyā (one of the 25 sāmparāyik activities)

    • In the list of 25 kriyās under sāmparāyik āsrava, “iryāpath‑kriyā” is named.
    • There it means: careful walking / careful movement, looking at the ground to avoid himsā.
    • If this careful movement is done with some subtle attachment or pride, it is counted among the sāmparāyik activities;
    if done in complete passionlessness, its inflow is called iryāpathik āsrava (non‑binding).

    ---

    Core difference in one line

    • Sāmparāyik kriyā / āsrava:
    Karma inflow with passions, which binds the soul and lengthens saṃsāra.
    • Iryāpathik āsrava / kriyā (in pure sense):
    Karma inflow caused by mere movement without passions, which does not truly bind and does not lengthen saṃsāra.

    ---

    Digambar and Śvetāmbara view

    • Both traditions accept this basic distinction:
    - Sāmparāyik = passion‑coloured, binding influx. - Iryāpathik = passionless, non‑binding (or extremely light) influx.
    • Wording and examples may differ slightly in commentaries, but the spiritual meaning is the same in both.

    In practice, for us as sādhakas: Whenever there is even a little rāga–dveṣa, our activity becomes sāmparāyik (binding). The more we act with pure awareness, without attachment/aversion, the closer we come to iryāpathik‑type non‑binding activity.

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