Book Title: Ahimsa the Science of Peace
Author(s): Surendra Bothra
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Page 143
________________ active; because the later three come into play only after the awareness of the self is born. With the birth of individual consciousness and its refinement, there is a slow transformation from group activities to individual activities. Beyond this point, any progress is through one's efforts towards purifying the soul and indulging in disciplined activities. After defining these basic concepts comes the means of purification. A combination of three processes has been defined as the means of purification: right perception (Samyak Darshan), right knowledge (Samyak Jnana), and right conduct (Samyak Charitra). The capacity or intellect with whose development one can recognize and perceive truth is called right perception. The understanding, through right perception and undeniable proof, of the ultimate reality of all fundamentals and basic concepts is right knowledge. The activity guided by right knowledge and devoid of passions is right conduct. Right perception and right knowledge are complementary to one another, and one does not exist without the other. Similarly the right conduct has to be practiced after acquiring right perception and right knowledge. The driving force, that gives soul the strength to elevate itself, is right knowledge, which comes through right perception and helps practicing right conduct. It is this combination of right perception, knowledge, and conduct that helps one at every step in the path of purification and liberation. Any act without knowledge is worthless as far as purification is concerned. Poison mixes with blood and disrupts every system of the body by spreading its toxic effects. Similarly, passions disrupt the progress and activity of soul with their toxicity of Karma. In order for the body to regain its normal activities AHIMSA: THE SCIENCE OF PEACE 100 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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