Ahimsa and Jainism

Author(s): Vijayvallabhsuri
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi

Page 84

( 77 )
worldly existence, means of emancipation and other spiritual matters. A course of life shaped in corisonance with this code of discipline arrests the inflow of karmic matter.
Purging (Nirjara ) OF KARMAN
But for terminating the state of bondage and achieving (or. to be exact, realizing ) absolute enlightenment, not only new karmans are not to be contracted, but the old ones are to be got rid of also. And practising of various austerities (tapas) is the most effective means to this end. Fasting, limiting food in its quantity as well as quality, staying in seclusion and practising difficult physical postures (asana) are to be undertaken in order to subdue senses and help cultivating a sense of detachment from whatever is non-self. Even more important than these outward forms of austerities are the inward forms. They include expiation (prayascitta ) serving the holy, the sick and the need (vaiyavrtya ), studying scriptures (svadhyaya) and practising meditation (dhyana ).
EMANCIPATION (Moksa ) Meditation or concentration (dhyana) is a very important means in the final stage of spiritual progress. Compassion, humility and forbearance
are essential pre-requisites of the auspicious (subha)