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DASA-DHARMA
251
Observance of austerity is the stepping stone to attainment of spiritual strength or greatness. One has to withdraw oneself from a life of sensual pleasures and achieve detachment from the the lure of material possessions. The detachinent must be complete, both external and internal. Human life would not be worth living unless the soul advances to some extent at least by the subsidence of Karmas. The greatest difficulty in life is to secure freedom from infatuation. Since passions pervert the soul austerity is the sole means of getting rid of them. It is only by reaching the pinnacle of austerity that the great souls attained salvation. Every one can practise penance to the extent possible, regard being had to one's mental and spiritual capacity.
Jainism attaches the greatest importance to penance. Enrichment of the qualities of the soul is real penance. It is by penance that one destroys the accumulated Karmas and obtains purity of mind and thought.6
Uttama Tyāga or Complete renunciation
It is a difficult virtue in practice. In this world, man is normally judged from his wealth, power and position. All forms of acquisition of wealth are attended with some craving, if not greed. The first stage of cultivating this virtue is to possess a strong determination against acquisition. The second step is that of renunciation by making donations and gifts to good causes. Jainism lays down that every house-holder should practise some charity in providing food, shelter, medicine and learning to the needy. All or some forms of charity have to be practised everyday. Charity blesses him that gives and consoles him that accepts. He who spends all his time only in accumulation will be absorbed in passions of greed and craving; he will have no thought of the soul and of his release from the meshes of the Karmas. Canstant thoughts of covetousness without any idea of cimzity would lead to further influx of inauspicious Karmas. ;
A stingy man will be an object of sendal and spite. A charitable person will be respected by the society and will be able to
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