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OMNISCIENCE
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Right Faith and Right Knowledge being acquired, a beginning has to be made in respect of Right Conduct sooner or later, for without action nothing can be accomplished. The forces that stand in the way of progress on the path now are the lesser degrees of passions which are nevertheless still very powerful, and the energies that interfere with perfect serenity of mind. These can only be destroyed by one's turning the back, on, that is, renouncing the world in the fullest sense of the term. Tapaścharaña signifies the determination to have absolutely nothing to do with the good things of the world, that is to say, to refuse absolutely to be swayed by its temptations. If death intervene before success is attained, it does not matter a bit. The merit acquired is carried over by the immortal soul, and is so much actual gain, for the future.
Rişabha Devaji brought much accumulated merit of tapaścharaṇa with Him from His previous lives. His Soul's inner forces were developed to such an extent that He possessed the most indomitable will, against which calamity and trouble knocked their heads in vain. He was even able to live without food and water for the whole period that He remained immersed in holy meditation, and for six months more thereafter when no one knew how to offer Him food proper
