________________
PRINCIPLES OF JAINISM
193
he prepares for himself an ascending scale of virtues by which he destroys karma.
(7) Repenting for one's sins before the guru: By this act the soul obtains humility. He will leave off all blamable occupations and apply himself to praiseworthy callings.
(8) Moral and intellectual purity of the soul: By such purity the soul ceases from sinful occupations.
(9) Adoration of the 24 Jinas: By this adoration the soul arrives at purity of faith.
(10) Paying reverence to the guru: By this act the soul destroys such karına as leads to birth in low families. He wins the affection of the people and brings about good-will.
(11) By expiation of sins the soul obviates transgressions of the vows; thereby he stops the āśrawus or influx of sins.
(12) By u particular posture of the body (kāyotsargu) the soul gets rid of past and present transgressions which require prāyaścitta (expiatory rites).
(13) By self-denial the soul shuts the doors against the āśravas 1 and prevents desires arising in him.
(14) By praises and hymns he obtains wisdom consisting in knowledge, faith and conduct.
(15) By keeping the right time he destroys karnut which obstructs right knowledge.
(16) By practising penunce he gets rid of sins and commits no transgressions.
(17) By begging forgiveness he obtains happiness of mind.
(18) By study he destroys karma which obstructs right kuowledge.
(19) By the recital of the sacred texts he obtains destruction of karma and preserves the sacred lore.
cestioning the teachers he arrives at a correct comprehension of the sūtra and its meaning.
(21) By repetition be reproduces the sounds or syllables and commits them to memory.
(22) By pondering on what he has learnt he loosens the firm hold which the seven kinds of karma have upon the soul; he shortens their duration and mitigates their power.
(23) By religious discourses he obtains destruction of karma, he exalts the creed and by exalting the creed he acquires karma for the future bliss.
(24) By the acquisition of sacred knowledge he destroys ignorance.
1 Asrava is that which causes the soul to be affected by sins.
13
