In Jain thought, karma isn’t a cosmic ledger kept by a deity but subtle particles of matter that cling to the soul whenever actions are driven by passions. The Tattvartha Sūtra sketches this process in five stages:

1. Influx (āsrava): Every thought, word or deed generates a flow of karmic particles toward the jīva. Emotions like anger or greed act as a sieve, letting molecules stick.
2. Bondage (bandha): Those particles latch on, blurring the soul’s innate clarity. Imagine sticky tar coating a clean glass.
3. Stoppage (saṁvara): Through ethical vigilance and restraint—right speech, right conduct—one can halt fresh karmic inflow. It’s like patching holes in a leaking boat.
4. Shedding (nirjarā): Old karma wears off via austerities, meditation or spontaneous remorse. Every act of equanimity chips away rust from the spirit.
5. Liberation (mokṣa): When no new particles accumulate and old ones are fully exhausted, the soul shines in its pristine, infinite knowledge and bliss.

Eight primary karma types are identified: those that obscure perception and knowledge, delude emotion, obstruct progress, determine future bodies, lifespan, social status and feelings of pleasure or pain. Each functions like a filter, shading experience until the soul is freed.

This framework has surprising echoes today. In an era of mindfulness apps and COP30’s focus on personal carbon footprints, the idea that every choice leaves a trace resonates deeply. Cutting down screen time or choosing sustainable travel, for example, mirrors saṁvara—stopping harmful patterns before they stick.

Rather than blaming fate or an external judge, this teaching places responsibility squarely on one’s own intentions and efforts. Clear intent paired with compassionate action can lighten the load and pave the path to spiritual freedom. By treating karma as a natural law—analogous to gravity or climate systems—Jainism offers a practical, almost scientific, roadmap for inner transformation.