Kundakunda’s Samayasāra paints karmic bondage as a kind of cosmic cling-film, wrapping the soul in sediments of past deeds and passions. At its heart lies the idea of asrava (influx) and bandha (binding). Every intention, word or action—when stirred by anger, greed, pride or deceit—opens the sluice gates for karmic particles to stream in. Those particles then latch onto the soul, dimming its innate radiance.

Imagine scrolling endlessly through social feeds: each swipe feeds a craving, keeping attention tethered to the screen. Likewise, passions become channels through which karma flows. Asrava is that very flow; bandha is the sticky residue left behind. Once stuck, these particles obscure the soul’s pure nature, much like urban smog hides a blue sky.

Samayasāra distinguishes between ghātiyā karmas, which impair the soul’s qualities (knowledge, perception, bliss and energy), and aghātiyā karmas, which determine its worldly circumstances (body, lifespan, social status and pleasure-pain balance). Together they form a dual-layered cloak, dictating everything from one’s birth circumstances to moment-to-moment experiences. Think of it as both a trap and a script: roles and limitations assigned by past deeds.

Breaking free means cutting off the inflow and shedding the attachments already in place. That’s achieved through samyama—right belief, knowledge and conduct. Cultivating detachment and mindful self-inquiry acts like a gentle detergent, dissolving karmic grit. Modern mindfulness apps echo this ancient prescription: by observing thoughts without judgment, it becomes easier to spot reactive patterns before they harden into fresh karma.

In an age where rapid AI breakthroughs and pandemic-born anxieties dominate headlines, Samayasāra’s message cuts through the noise: the soul’s bondage isn’t imposed from without but shaped from within. Reining in passions and simplifying intentions offers a direct route back to genuine clarity and freedom—proof that even a 2,000-year-old guide can still hit home today.