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218: JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD regarded by Jains as the most effective to avoid the inflow of “karma” in the soul.
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The controls (gupti)
Jain monks and nuns must carry out three controls: of their thoughts, words and activities, to avoid causing violence. Hereto, they must pay attention to have only pure thoughts (mano-gupti), to observe silence for a particular period of time or to speak only when absolutely necessary (vāk-gupti) and to practise a regulation of bodily activities (kāya-gupti).
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The carefulnesses (samiti)
Jain ascetics have also to observe five constant acts of carefulness: to avoid violence in walking (īryā-samiti), speaking (bhāṣā-samití), eating (eșaņā-samiti), using objects (ādāna-niksepaņa-samiti) and complying with nature's calls (utsarga-samiti).
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The essential virtues (uttama-dharma)
To stop the inflow of “karma” Jain ascetics have to permanently and completely practice ten specific virtues (dharma) to stop the inflow of “karma”. These virtues counteract passions: anger, pride, deception and greed that are the main causes of inflow of karmic matter. These ten virtues are: supreme forgiveness (uttama kşamā), supreme humility (uttama-mārdava), supreme honesty (uttamaārjava), supreme purity (uttama-sauca), supreme self-restraint (uttama-samyama), supreme truthfulness (uttama-satya), supreme austerities (uttama-tapa), supreme renouncement or to offer knowledge to other people (uttama-tyāga), supreme non-attachment (uttama-ākiñcanya) and supreme chastity (uttama- brahmacarya).
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