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THE NOTION OF GROWTH
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The chief disciples of the tirthankaras recorded their teachings in extensive works. Successive teachers wrote shorter works that communicated the knowledge in simpler form.
The sutra does not list any particular scripture, but only mentions the number of categories into which these works are divided. The categories are listed in more detail in the chapter 'THE HOLY SCRIPTURES OF THE JAINS'.
Here ends the part dealing with indirect knowledge. The next part describes direct knowledge.
Direct knowledge is perceived straight, without the help of external factors or the circuitous route of our senses. We receive direct knowledge through
1 - clairvoyance and telepathy (avadhi), 2 - the direct perception of the mental activity of others
(manah-paryaya) and 3 - omniscience (kevali jnana).
The first two channels give us access to limited knowledge, while omniscience is unlimited and encompasses the entire reality.
path to liberation at the age of 30 and reached omniscience after twelve-and-a-half years. He communicated his knowledge and experience for 30 years before he left his body at the age of 72.
Mahavira's teaching vitalized the path to liberation and had profound influence on Jainism up to the very present. During his presence as tirthankara he taught approximately half a million people and it is said that many of them reached liberation even during his lifetime.
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