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troubled and miserable creatures on the basis of this belief is against Jaina scriptures, Jaina dharma and even against humanism.
The scriptures that lay down the principles of the doctrine of karma like Gommaṭasāra, Dhavalā and Mahā-dhavala commentaries on the Şaṭkhaṇḍāgama and the Jayadhavalā commentary on Kaṣāyapāhuḍa from the Digambara tradition and Kammapayadi, Pañcasangraha, Karmagrantha, etc., from the Svetambara tradition unanimously say that incurring merit or an increase in its intensity is possible only through a decrease in, or weakening of the passions. It is not possible in any other way. The gaining of merits through the auspicious activities like mercy, kindness, compassion, charity, service, affection, friendship, etc., is also because these activities reduce passions. In the 'as enunciated' conduct the passions are nonexistent and, therefore, no change in them by way of weakening is possible. Therefore, no further merit can be earned. The peak of merit that had been reached by the time one reaches the stage of 'as enunciated' conduct remains at the peak as long as one remains at this stage. The destruction of meritorious karmic bondage takes place due to an increase in passions and in no other way. There are no other practices that can destroy the meritorious karma or reduce its intensity. Therefore, to consider meritorious karma as deplorable and abandonable is to encourage an increase in passions, to invite them to come to us and to approve of them, which is totally against the path of detachment.
We have said earlier that meritorious karma cannot be earned through a rise in passions but only through their decrease or weakening. According to this principle of the doctrine of karma with the manifestation of the 'as enunciated' conduct the intensity of meritorious karma reaches its peak. As long as this conduct lasts it is not possible that the intensity of meritorious karma may decrease even a least little bit. Once manifested the 'as enunciated' conduct cannot leave the omniscient aspirant except just before attaining the final accomplishment of nirvāṇa or final deliverance. On attaining nirvāṇa when the 'as enunciated' conduct is left behind the peak level of meritorious karmic
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