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Means of Self-Realization
understanding and knowledge falls short and is not able to understand and appreciate them.96
Having discussed how to read and what to lear from scriptures, we now propose to discuss the duties of a sādḥaka as an aspirant and the concept of sādhanā (spiritual practices) which help the aspirant progress fast on the path of self-realization.
11. Preparatory Sadhana: Developing Vairagya and Upasama
An aspirant, who has decided to tread the path of spirituality and achieve the goal of self-realization, has to follow and practise many things, some of which are mental and some physical. He has to remember and be always mindful of the six tenets of Atma-siddhi, which would give him mental and internal strength. However, he has to do certain behavioural practices. (conduct rules), which help him and support his mental efforts. In short, he has to reduce his arambha and parigraha and develop his vairāgya and upaśamabhava. In Jain darśana, the terms arambha and samārambha are used to mean killing or violence. Parigraha means possessions or possessiveness. Indulgence and involvement in activities. physical or mental, involving arambha and parigraha create in man
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