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JAIN FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS deceit, he will resort to further deception. There is no synchrony between the thoughts, speech and actions of a cunning person. He thinks one thing, says something else, and acts absolutely in a different fashion.
04. Contentment (Shaucha):
Lack of greed is contentment. Greed is a desire to possess. Greed is the one of the root causes of all sins. Greed is as dangerous as anger for the spiritual welfare of a person. It is the strongest vice and the last one to conquer, persisting almost to the end of the spiritual path of purification. With eradication of greed, the soul is practically passionless. Contentment is the highest and purest of all the virtues.
05. Truthfulness (Satya):
Lack of falsehood is truthfulness. Truthfulness for most people means not to lie. Absolute truth is in knowing the thing as it is, and not just to differentiate bad from good.
06. Self-Control (Sanyam):
Control over violence caused by thoughts speech or physical means against all living beings and control over worldly pleasures is the true definition of self-control. Self-control can lead to liberation.
07. Austerity (Tapa):
Austerity or penance is the repentance of one's sins. It is the fire, which burns and reduces the forces of karmic dust to ashes. Austerities are of two kinds: a) the external types, which consist of physical restraints and, b) the internal types, which deal with mental purification.
08. Renunciation (Tyäg):
Renunciation is defined as giving up possessions, both internal and external. Charity should not be mistaken for renunciation. Charity means giving up things, which belong to you. It is done for the benefit of the recipient. Renunciation, on the other hand, does not need a donor. It is primarily done for the benefit of self. There is no need for a second or third party as in charity.
09. Detachment (Aparigraha, Äkinchanya):
A lack of possessions is detachment. External possessions are wealth, house, etc. Internal possessions are attachment, aversion and desire. To lack in internal possessions is the ultimate virtue.
10. Celibacy (Brahmacharya):
Absolute restraint from all sensual pleasures by mind, speech, and body is the ultimate celibacy.
One must always remember that the powers of the sense organs are limited to recognizing the outer world and mundane knowledge, not the real inner self. Self-realization is the mother of all the supreme virtues. Without it, virtues are not supreme but mere acts of good behavior and still the cause of bondage.
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I
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