Think of reality as an intricate tapestry woven from seven key threads. First, there’s jīva—the living spark, the conscious principle behind every heartbeat and thought. Opposite it sits ajīva, all that lacks consciousness: matter, space, time, motion, rest, and the subtle scaffolding of dharma and adharma (the forces that enable movement or stillness).

Next comes āsrava, the continual trickle of karmic particles attaching to the soul thanks to thoughts, words, and deeds. Like a leaky faucet drips water into a bucket, these vibrations accumulate unless the flow is stopped. That brings us to bandha, where those same particles bind tightly to the soul, shaping experience and keeping one locked in cycles of birth and rebirth.

To halt the drip, samvara steps in—mindful self-discipline, ethical conduct, and inner vigilance. Modern mindfulness seekers might recognize its echo in digital detox routines or the growing wave of mental-health retreats, all aiming to stem the tide of distraction and negative habit patterns. Once the inflow is contained, nirjarā is the cleanup crew: deliberate practices such as fasting, meditation, and service that strip away existing karma, layer by layer, like peeling an onion to its core.

Finally, mokṣa shines at the center—a state of perfect freedom where no karmic dust clouds the soul, resulting in infinite knowledge, bliss, and power. It’s the ultimate “off-switch” of suffering, reminiscent of today’s collective yearning for peace amid global upheaval and information overload.

Together, these seven tattvas map out a journey from entanglement to emancipation, offering a blueprint as timeless as it is urgently relevant.