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CONFLUENCE OY OPPOSITES
be pursued by ascetics and saints. The householder begins with the acquisition of Right Faith and takes to the observance of the vows already described, gradually rising, step by step, through what are technically known as pratimas, to the stage of asceticism when he becomes subject to the severer rules laid down for the guidance of saints. The pratimas are eleven in number and mark the spiritual progress made by the soul, from time to time, as well as from one step to another, each succeeding step signifying an additional feature of progress over and above the precediog one. The life of a sddhu is one of great severity; he aims at the attain. ment of pure self-contemplation by completely detaching himself from the world, and by mortifying his lower nature. In this way, by means of penances and fasts, he frees his soul from the undesirable conpanionship of matter, thereby destroying the dominion of karma and transmigration. With its karmas destroyed, the Soul becomes Omviscient and Immortal, and is filled with its own svabhävik (natural) bliss, which shall never know deterioration or abating at any time in the future, According to Jainism, the soul must undergo transmigration till nirvana be reached. There are certain souls that shall never obtain nirvana, though the potency of Gudhood is as much a characterisatic of their nature as of any other soul. Their karmas are of a very malignant type and shall always debar them from the ratna trai (triple Jewel) of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct, without which salvation is not
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