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Conduct of Life
Conduct of Life is of much importance in Jain Philosophy. It has been said that human actions to a large extent are influenced by passions.

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Conduct of Life, Jain PhilosophyAccording to Jain Philosophy once the soul is free from Karma which disturbs one`s life, it possesses the completely pure life, i.e. the absolute moral good conduct. As long as this is not the case its conduct is disturbed by the influence of passions. Passions are: 1. Krodha (anger) 2. Mana (pride), 3. Maya (illusion) and 4. Lobha (greed).

Intensity of passions is explained by examples. The four types of anger resemble a line that is drawn earth, dust and water. The first can be removed only with great exertion, each of the following with a lighter one. Similarly, anger lasting the whole life is excessively strong in its effect and very difficult to combat, whereas the effect of the three remaining is correspondingly weaker, and therefore can be more easily eliminated. The intensity of pride resembles a stone-pillar, a bone, a piece of wood. The types of illusion are compared with the root of a bamboo, horn of a ram, cow-urine and chip of wood. The crookedness of each of these things can be more easily removed them in the case of the preceding one. And finally it is said that the Degree of greed corresponds to the scarlet (colour), greater or smaller dirt and a stain of turmeric. All these stick to the clothes, but the scarlet colour can hardly be removed, dirt with more or less trouble and the stain of turmeric can be very easily removed.

The moral conduct of the soul has three main types. They are:

1. Achirati, completely deficient self-discipline: This refers to the objects of 5 senses and thinking, so also to the damage of 4 types of elementary beings, of the plants and of the beings with a movable body, i.e. it is of 12 types.

2. Desavirati, "partial self-discipline":This is expressed in giving killing of movable beings. It appears after the elimination of both the worst types of the four passions.

3. Virati, self- discipline: It comes when all the passions "hindering the renunciation" are made ineffective.

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