Peculiar to Jainism, Karma is believed to be part of physical matter, or indeed, to be matter itself. As I understand it, any desire, good or bad, leads to a build up of karma, and in turn, a release. The release itself invariably gathers new karma, and the cycle of birth and rebirth continues.
While reading about Jainism’s view of karma, I was struck by the similarities it had with certain aspects of Gnosticism. Both have a view of the true form of a person as having been bound to physical matter, and subsequently deems matter, or karmic matter, as the barrier to contentment.
On the other hand, Genesis describes these material forms as good, and the eschatological perfection detailed in Revelation involves a new world, a city, bodies, things which are more than mere ideals. So, the two worldviews of Christianity and Jainism disagree, what more can be said?
If I were speaking to a Jain, I might inquire what he thought of man, his purpose. I think he might tell me that his purpose was to achieve a release from samsara. I might then reply that this life, for all of its suffering and death, whether we reincarnate or not, this life is precious, unique, and has a purpose. I might hold the soil in my hand and kiss it; I might take his hand and ask him, “Is this not good?” To this he might say that good or bad, it is an eternal trap, and I imagine I would reply that this is freedom, to move, to breath, to stretch. What is moksha? What is existence without form? Should I count myself free if I were but a mind, immovable, unchangeable? Is not this limited form of our bodies the vehicle through which any freedom can be obtained?
Tale Told 