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THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES (TATTVAS)
5. Samvara
However, the inflow of karmic matter may be stopped for the soul is a free agent and can, if it chooses, refuse to take in any more of this mischievous substance. Restraint of body and mind, a deliberate attitude of indifference to matter's traps and temptations, induce a calm evenness of the soul, which gives no opportunity to the karmas to approach and cleave to or dig into it. The mind is freed from love, hatred, attachment, and aversion; there is no yoga or asrava vibration, and the inflow of karmas is stopped.
The psychical condition which makes this possible is bhavasamvara. This is reached by following the rules of conduct under vows, by religious observance, by the threefold restraint of body, mind and speech, by performance of duties, by compassion towards all living beings, by contemplating the true character of the world and our relation to its objects and persons, by concentrating the mind on our chief purpose in life and by enduring all kinds of troubles and tortures for the achievement thereof.
PART II 13
6. Nirjara
Nirjara means the falling away of karmic matter from the soul. The fetters may be themselves gradually wear out and leave the soul free but it is a long process. Therefore a shorter method is adopted, deliberate activity may hasten the ripening of a karma and the shedding of its matter. To illustrate we wish evil to our neighbour. A. The thought-activity invites the karmic matter into the soul (asrava), the matrer comes and binds the soul (bandha). This karma may take two months to bear its full fruits; in the meantime it is an evil load for the soul. To gain lightness and to get rid of the karma, the soul may deliberately feel an opposite kind of feeling towards other neighbours B, C, and D. A still surer way is to practise austerity, by removing the mind from the demands and impulses of the body and by mortifying the physical man through not listening to its greed and temptations, matter may be overcome and the soul freed from the bondage.
The natural maturing of a karma and its separation from the soul is called Sa-vipaka-nirjara. Inducing karma to leave the soul
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| SR No. | 006758 |
| Book Title | Guidelines to Mahavir Darshan |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Satshrutseva Sadhna Kendra |
| Publisher | Satshrut Seva Sadhna Kendra |
| Publication Year | 1970 |
| Total Pages | 70 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 4 MB |