Samyak charitra means the state of right conduct in Jainism. It is the daily practice of following the vows (up to the level one can) with a pure intention in body, speech, and mind.

How it can get spoiled:

• Kashayas (internal passions): anger, pride, deceit, greed, and attachment. When these arise, conduct deteriorates.
• Violating vows and duties: breaking ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (celibacy), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness) or their layperson counterparts.
• Improper speech and actions: lying, hurtful or harsh speech, cruelty, exploitative behavior.
• External habits that cloud discrimination: intoxication, uncontrolled senses, or associating with bad company.
• Lack of self-control in daily life: careless discipline, neglecting regular practices like samayik (meditative self-control), panchamavahara (fivefold conduct), or pratikraman (confession/reflection).

Ways to preserve and restore samyak charitra:

• Regular practice of vows appropriate to one’s stage (upavasa for laypersons; mahavratas or anuvratas for households; further vows for monks).
• Mindful conduct: think before speaking, act with compassion, tell the truth without causing harm.
• Practice self-purification routines: samayik, pratikraman, and spiritual discipline to corral kashayas.
• Satsang and guidance from worthy monks/teachers; truthful reflection on one’s actions.

Note: In Jainism, the core idea of samyak charitra is same across major traditions, but nuances in practice and emphasis may differ slightly between Digambara and Śvetāmbara communities. If you’d like, I can explain those tradition-specific nuances in simple terms.