Answer

In Jain Dharma, Vedaniya karma is the karma that causes the experience of pleasure and pain. To cut off or reduce Vedaniya karma, one must practice:

• Samyak Darshan — right faith
• Samyak Jnan — right knowledge
• Samyak Charitra — right conduct
• Tapasya — austerity and self-discipline
• Equanimity in pleasure and pain
• Non-attachment toward comfort, taste, praise, and bodily happiness

Vedaniya karma is weakened when the soul stops reacting with attachment to pleasure and aversion to pain.

Explanation

Vedaniya karma has two main types:

• Sata Vedaniya karma — gives pleasant experiences
• Asata Vedaniya karma — gives painful experiences

Both pleasure and pain are results of past karma. The spiritual mistake is not merely experiencing them, but becoming attached to pleasure or disturbed by pain.

To reduce Vedaniya karma:

• Accept pain calmly without anger, complaint, or hatred.
• Enjoy comfort without pride, greed, or attachment.
• Practice Samayik to remain in equanimity.
• Practice Pratikraman to repent for harmful actions.
• Observe Ahimsa, truthfulness, celibacy, non-stealing, and non-possessiveness.
• Do tapas such as fasting, limiting food, and controlling desires according to one’s capacity.
• Serve others with compassion, without expectation.

Spiritual Understanding

Vedaniya karma keeps the soul involved in worldly experience by making it feel, “I am happy” or “I am suffering.” But according to Jain Dharma, the soul’s true nature is beyond bodily pleasure and pain.

When one remains calm in both favorable and unfavorable situations, new karmic bondage reduces, and old karma begins to shed through right conduct and austerity.

Takeaway

To cut off Vedaniya karma, do not chase pleasure and do not hate pain. Practice equanimity, self-control, compassion, and tapas. Gradually, the soul becomes lighter, purer, and closer to liberation.