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a person has already i n the liability to be reborn in the tiryanch gati that embraces all forms of the mineral, the vegetable and the animal kingdoms, and includes even the lowest and therefore the most undesirable form of life, known as nigoda, no subsequent change of beliefs, on his part, in that particular incarnation, can cancel tho liability that has been incurred, though the tinge of his prevailing convictions and thoughts at the last moment of life may be such as to lead him to be reborn amongst the best forms of existence within its range. Similarly, if a person has ong. endered the karma for a rebirth in hell, it is possible for him by his subsequent good action and right beliefs to reincarnato in the best of the conditions that are available in the gati or to descend to the lowost and the most dreadful of its grades by further perverse thinking and
living.
The death the saint aspires to attain to is termed samadhi marana or sallekhana, that is to say the death of self-control. Even advanced householders aspire for this auspicious form of death. The saint does not like to die like a fool, as a rat in a trap, so to speak. Ho selects his own time and conditions for death. He perfects himself for it through a long course of training, so that he sbould not flinch or be deterred in his resolution at the moment of the supreme test. The course recommended extends over a period of twelve years wbich is to be divided into six onequal parts and devoted to the performance of desireeradicating asceticism. The first four years be sbould devote to the special form of tapas known käyakalesa (bodily afflictions), to be followed by a similar period characterized by the avoidance of the six rasas, namely, (1) milk. ( 2 ) curds, ( 3 ) hee ( clarified butter), ( 4 ) oils, ( 5 ) sugar and ( 6 ) salt. Of the remaining four years, two are to be spent in reducing the quantity of food and the a voidance of the rasas, then a year in living on reduced "rations" after which six months should be spent in perfor. ming some sort of less trying asceticism, and the last six montbe, in practising some of its severes. Thus disciplined the saint may hope to be able to control his inner
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