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A
Treatise on Jaioism
77"
ced of the true and pure nature of his own Soul, and this is Real Right Belief.
Two more are added to the abovesaid seven principles. These are Punya (Merit) and Papa (Demerit). Know good karmas as merit and bad karmas as demerit. Non-self, whether merit or demerit, is not conducive to the freedom of the Soul. People generally love merit and hate demerit, because the latter brings pain and the former pleasure. Really pleasure also is not beneficial, because a mundane soul indulging in sense-pleasures remains aloof from the path of spiritual purity. Every gratification of sense-pleasure creates desire for further gratification. For obtaining such gratifications one has to employ means, which may be fair or foul, and he inevitably binds bad karmas. He goes on sinking deeper and deeper in the mire and his chances of extricating himself become lesser and lesser. A wise man should wean himself away from both merit and demerit, and concentrate all attention to contemplation of pure soul. From the practical point of view, people prefer merit to demerit, and therefore engage themselves in such acts and thoughts as bring. in merit for the following reasons :
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