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To conclude, a soul can have one, two, three or four kinds of knowledge at one and the same time. If one kind, it must be pure knowledge; if two kind it is the sence and the study knowledge. If three kinds, it is the sense and the study and the past knowledge; if four kinds, it is all except pure knowledge.16
RIGHT CONDUCT (SAMYAK-CHARITRAY
Right conduct is briefly described in DRAVYA SANGRAHA (verse 45) as refraining from what is harmful and doing what is baneficial. In a word, it is what helps the self to get rid of the karmas that lead him to bondage and suffering. For the stoppage of the influx of new karmas, and eradication of the old, one must (1) take one five great vows (Panca-Mahavratas), (2) Practise extreme carefulness (Samiti) in walking, speaking, receiving alms and other things, and answering calls of nature so as to avoid doing any harm to any life, (3) Practise restraint (gupti) of thought, speech and bodily movements, (4) practise dharma of ten different kinds, namely, forgiveness humility, straight forwardness, truthfulness cleanliness, self-restraint, austerity (internal and external), sacrifice, non attachment and celibacy (5) meditate on the cardinal truths taught regarding the self and world (6) Conquer, through fortitude, all pains and discomforts that arise from hunger, thirst, heat, cold, etc., and (7) attain equanimity, purity, absolute greedlessness and perfect conduct. Right faith, knowledge and conduct are inseparably bond up, and the progress and degeneration of the one react on the others two. Perfection of conduct goes hand in hand with perfection of faith and knowledge when a person, through the harmonious development of these three succeeds in overcoming the forces of all passions and karmas, old and new, the soul becomes free from its bondage to matter and attains liberation. Being free from the obstacles of matter, the soul realizes its inherent potentiality. It attains the four fold perfection (Ananta-Catustaya), namely, infinite faith, knowledge, infinite power and infinite blisa.
FOOT NOTES
1. Samyag-Darsana Jnana Caritrani Moksa Margah. 2. Tattvartha Sutra; 1, 2 & 3. 3. See Purushartha Siddy Upaya by Amrita Chandra Suri 5-8. 4. See Ratnakaranda Sravakacharya by Samantabhadraacharya, 4. 5. Same See above No. 4. 6. See Tattvartha Sutra, Ch. I, 3. 7. See Dravya Sangraha, 42.
Mahaveer Jayanti Smarika 77
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