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312TRI-2 Y CHAPTER TWO
The description of a true aspirant is given in the Acharang Sutra of Jainism in chapter 3 thereof called “Shitoshila” as under: “The aspirant who is treating good as well evil elements such as taste, touch, smell as well as forms evenly and with equipoise is capable of attaining the light of true spiritual knowledge and is able to obtain “Kaivalya”.
Through verses 55 to 72 the author of Gita gives the masterly description of the qualities of a “Sthitaprajna”. Jainism describes the development of spiritual aspect by stating three stages namely, 1. Bahir Atma, 2.Antar Atma, and 3. Parama Atma. In the first stage the soul tries to seek happiness from out side sources such as material objects of life. The word “Bahir” means out side. The second stage is the stage of intropection The word “Antar” means inward. Introspection about the root causes of pleasures and pains, turbulence and travails, conficts and comforts, noticed
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