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Just as the ocean is never content even with the waters of thousands of rivers, In the same way human beings never feel satiated
with the satisfaction of their wants”. Jain religion divides parigraha broadly into external and internal. External attachment (Dravya Prigraha) refers to possession of land, property, building, wealth, ornaments , industrial establishments, vehicles, pet animals and such other goods and services beyond a judicious limit. Attributes like lust and passion, greed, jealousy, anger, ego, malicious intent, deceipt, betrayal and various kinds of indulgence come under internal or Bhav Parigraha.Jain scriptures repeatedly emphasise that it is not enough to renounce the use of any item or to limit its consumption. Aparigraha demands that one should give up the feeling of wanting it or craving for it. In Jain philosophy, Parigraha has been classified under three major heads, namely (I) Karmic bondages ( Karma Upadhi ), (2) Physical bondages (Sharir Upadhi), and (3) possessiveness of material things and accumulative urges (Bhandopkaran Upadhi). The process of practicing nonattachment starts from detachment from material pleasures, commodities and services, and the mindset of accumulation of wealth.
The next stage is realization that while the soul is eternal, the body is perishable and trasient. Hence one should not ignore one's soul purification by getting entangled in physical comforts and sensuous pleasures. The third stage is moving on to the Jain spiritual path of self-realization and soul awakening in order to liberate oneself from the schackles of Karmas. Karmic bondages, thus, constitute the most basic and challenging attachment. Jain religion lays down 12 types of penance in order to develop required self-restraint for aparigraha. Six internal penance comprise of developing qualities of repentance, humility, compassion, self-introspection, meditation and intuitive non
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A Portrait of Jain Religion
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