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1201
The Path of Arhat : A Religious Democracy
followed by Samyag-caritra (proper conduct). Once the self adopts proper conduct fresh inflow of karmas begin to dccrcase and the process of 'Saivara' becomes activated. The self begins to realize that Paudgalic forces generated by kaşāyas like anger, pride, deceit and greed as well as avarice and attachment must be contained. This realization is called "Bhava-sarivara' and when this ‘Bhava-sauvara' is actualized and put into action, the relevant inflow of karma stops. This is called 'Dravya-samvara'.
The seers have preached the mcthod by which 'Dravyasativara' can be actualized. These are : 1. Vrata - renaces, 2. Samiti - carefulness, 3. Gupti – restraint, 4. Dharma - obscrvance, 5. Anuprekşã – reflection, 6. Parişahajaya -- victory over difficulties and 7. Caritra -- conduct. Each one of this is further explained in details. We shall revert to that discussion later on.
Aim of 'Sarivara' is to block all the outlets of Asrava. This is illustrated by allegory of a pond of water getting water inflow from different drains. To make the pond completely dry, only throwing out the collected water is not sufficient, blocking all the outlets through which water flows in, is essential. Similarly the self can purify itself by shedding all accumulated karmas and by blocking all the outlets through which fresh karmas are flowing. This latter process is the process of 'Sarvara'. Sam' means proper and Vị' means to prevent, to surround. When this process is over, the fresh karmas are not generated and even if generated they are of very weak character. At this stage the question arises as to what should be done to the already accumulated karmas. This leads us to the next process called “Niriarā'. Nirjará (Shedding of Accumulated Karmas )
Function of Sainvata is to stop the fresh inflow of karma but the function of Nirjará is to dry up the reservoir of the past karmas. This process can be achieved in two ways, namely -- (1) by allowing the past karmas to fructify in due course of time and tasting their fruits -- good or bad — with equanimity and ( 2 ) by shedding past karmas through obser
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