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asceticism or 'austerities' throughout all of one's life and not in just the fourth stage. Asceticism leads to a state of inner serenity and calm, which no external events can disturb. Asceticism is voluntarily, freely and gladly practised, because one is aware of the good results it produces and the evil results indulgence leads to. Jainism recognizes the uncertainty, brevity and vanity of life. Asceticism in Jainism has as its goal, the purification of the individual. From the Jain standpoint asceticism enables a person to have right views because he is not attached to things and thus is not bent on defending and preserving worldly possessions. Asceticism is the basis of a non-legalistic ethics, as one voluntarily does the good rather than being forced to by rules or laws. Asceticism leads to an uncluttered life. Through austerities, the vestiges of Karma are dissolved and destroyed, and the Jiva is restored to its original purity and splendor. Even the bowl and the 'Piñchhi' (made from peacock feathers) used daily by the ascetic are not to be considered as exclusively his own. If the concept of limited possessions' is to guide the house-holder, the ideal of the ascetic is that of complete detachment or non-attachment. The ascetic is free from attachment, wise, controlling himself, seeking the law, earnest in the performance of austerities, performing his religious duties and regrading nothing his own. An ascetic's practice of austerities leads to both bodily and mental discipline. An ascetic is free from the four passions-anger, pride, deceipt and greed. The contribution of the ascetic to
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