How does Jainism explain karma as a substance that binds the soul?

In Jainism, karma is fundamentally understood as an atomic substance rather than a process or abstract moral law. While the soul is inherently pure and possesses infinite knowledge and bliss, these faculties are obscured by its contact with this material substance.

Karmic particles are attracted to the soul as a result of intentional, passionate action. Once these particles bind to the soul, they imprison it within a cycle of birth and death, restricting its innate power and purity. This bondage creates a chain of cause and effect that keeps the soul trapped in a succession of bodies.

To achieve liberation, a practitioner must stop the influx of new karmic matter and eliminate existing particles through a process known as nirjara, or "wearing away." This involves rigorous asceticism, meditation, and the calculated cessation of passionate actions. Through these efforts, the soul progresses through various stages of spiritual development, known as gunasthanas, eventually shedding its karmic burden to regain its natural state of purity.1