A full statement of the theory of ''lesya'' occurs in chapter 34 of theUttaradhyayana Uttaradhyayana or Uttaradhyayana Sutra is one of the most important sacred books of the Svetambara Jains. It consists of 36 chapters, each of which deals with aspects of Jain doctrine and discipline. It is believed by some to contain the actu ..., one of the fundamental ''sutras'' of the scriptural canon. Inspection of the metrical structure there, which consists of a cluster of old ''sloka'' verses amplified by twice as many verses in the ''arya metre ''Āryā meter'' is a meter used in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Marathi verses. A verse in metre is in four metrical lines called ''pāda''s. Unlike the majority of meters employed in classical Sanskrit, the meter is based on the number of s ( morae) ...'', makes clear that a great deal of ancient editorial care was taken to ensure that an original rudimentary description of this dimension of karma became fully cogent.
Colours
The ancientA man who acts on the impulse of the five sins, does not possess the three ''guptis'', has not ceased to injure the six (kinds of living beings), commits cruel acts, is wicked and violent, is afraid of no consequences, is mischievous and does not subdue his senses – a man of such habits develops the black ''leśyā''. — ''Uttarādhyayana-sūtra'', 34.21:22*People in blue lesya (neel leshya) are proud, haughty, and lazy. They are unreliable and other people avoid their company. They are cheaters, cowards, and hypocrites. These people also avoid all things religious.
A man of the following qualities: envy, anger, want of self-control, ignorance, deceit, want of modesty, greed, hatred, wickedness, carelessness, love of enjoyment; a man who pursues pleasures and does not abstain from sinful undertakings, who is wicked and violent – a man of such habits develops the blue ''leśyā''. — ''Uttarādhyayana-sūtra'', 34.23:24*Someone in grey lesya (kapot lesya) always remains sad and gloomy. They find faults in others and are vindictive. They boast about themselves, become excited over small matters, and lack mental balance.
A man who is dishonest in words and acts, who is base, not upright, a dissembler and deceiver 3, a heretic, a vile man, a talker of hurtful and sinful things, a thief, and full of jealousy – a man of such habits develops the grey ''leśyā''. — ''Uttarādhyayana-sūtra'', 34.25:26*People in red lesya (tejo leshya) are very careful about their actions and can discriminate between good and evil. They know the difference between what is right and what is wrong. They are kind, benevolent, religious, and lead a harmonious life.
A man who is humble, steadfast, free from deceit and inquisitiveness, well disciplined, restrained, attentive to his study and duties, who loves the Law and keeps it, who is afraid of forbidden things and strives after the highest good–a man of such habits develops the red ''leśyā''. — ''Uttarādhyayana-sūtra'', 34.27:28*A person with yellow lesya (padma leshya) is kind and benevolent and forgives everyone, even their enemies. They observe some austerities (
A man who has but little anger, pride, deceit, and greed, whose mind is at ease, who controls himself, who is attentive to his study and duties, who speaks but little, is calm, and subdues his senses–a man of such habits develops the yellow ''leśyā''. — ''Uttarādhyayana-sūtra'', 34.29:30*Shukla ("white") ''leshya'' has two different levels. This state of mind refers to someone who strictly observe the principles of Jainism. They are trustworthy, treat every soul as if it were their own, and do not have any ill feelings even for their enemies. They remain calm even if someone abuses them. Passing in this state of mind allows a being to be reborn as a human being or an angel. People who have perfected this state of mind will become pure and will have escaped the cycle of life and death once they have died.
A man who abstains from constant thinking about his misery and about sinful deeds, but engages in meditation on the law and truth only, whose mind is at ease, who controls himself, who practises the ''samitis'' and ''guptis'', whether he be still subject to passion or free from passion, is calm, and subdues his senses–a man of such habits develops the white ''leśyā''. — ''Uttarādhyayana-sūtra'', 34.31:32
Consequences
The black, blue and grey are inauspicious ''leśyā'' due to which the soul takes birth in various-unhappy states of existence. The yellow, red and white are the auspicious ''leśyās'' that enable a soul to take birth in various happy states of existence.* p.197 According toParable of tree
The Jain texts further describe the mental dispositions of a soul on account of ''leśyās'' with an example of the reactions of six persons who are travelers, on seeing a fruit-bearing tree. They see a tree laden with fruits and begin to think of getting those fruits: one of them suggests uprooting the entire tree and eating the fruits; the second one suggests cutting the trunk of the tree; the third one suggests cutting the branches only; the fourth one suggests cutting the twigs; the fifth one suggests plucking the fruits only; the sixth one suggests picking up only the fruits that have fallen down. The thoughts, words and bodily activities of each of these six travellers are different based on their mental dispositions and are respectively illustrative of the six ''leśyās''. The person with the black ''leśyā'', having evil disposition, thinks of uprooting the whole tree even though he wants to eat only one fruit. The person proposing to cut the tree trunk has blue ''leśyā'', the one suggesting cutting branches has grey ''leśyā'', the person suggesting cutting twigs has red lesya and the person thinking of simply plucking the fruits has yellow ''leśyā''. On the other hand, the person with the white ''leśyā'', having pure disposition, thinks only of picking up fruits fallen on the ground sparing the tree.See also
*References
{{Jainism Topics Jain philosophical concepts Karma in Jainism