Atma the Self

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 83

.... ATMĂ
T he Self....
Tapa -penance - (Twelve Kinds):
Attachment and aversion brings into the Soul Karmic atoms, which is the root cause of our worldly existence. Karmic atoms control and direct our every movement whether it be inner or outer, but when we become aware o the mighty spiritual empire hidden in us, Karmic atoms lose their hold on us. Then it is not the matter that dominates the soul, but it is the Soul that
can you remove karmic atoms completely from your Soul, so that the eternal spiritual splendour in you may outshine everything?
Jainism has prescribed twelve methods to uproot the Karmic atoms from the Soul. Six are exterior and six are interior in an ascending scale.
A. Exterior (Bodily - self control of senses and desires) 1) Anasana : A. To forgo, one or more meals.
B. Fasting, minimum for 36 hours, if possible
even without water. 2) Uņõdari : To eat less, i.e. to keep belly partly empty. 3) Vrtti Sankņēpa : To reduce items of varieties in food
consumption, reduce wants. 4) Rasā Parityāga : To forgo rich, luscious dishes/tasty food. 5) Kāya Klēsa : Self - suffering, bodily austerity. 6) Samlinatā To remain still or minimum body movements.
to control temptations. B. Interior (Spiritual advance, Soul's purification) 7) Prāyāscita. Expiation and self-introspection, confession
and repentance. 8) Vinaya : Respectfulness, reverence. 9) Vaiyā Vacca : To serve the fellow beings and spiritual
superiors.
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