In Jain Dharma, Charitra means right conduct – living in a way that helps the soul become pure and free from karma. Acharyas describe five types of Charitra (conduct) which show increasing levels of purity:

1. Samayika Charitra (समायिक चरित्र)

- Meaning: Conduct with equanimity for a limited time. - Nature: Passions (anger, pride, deceit, greed) are still present, but for a while the person tries to remain peaceful, equal‑minded towards friend–enemy, joy–sorrow. - Example: A shravak or sadhu sitting in Samayik, controlling mind, speech and body, avoiding all himsa as far as possible during that period.

1. Chhedopasthāpaniya Charitra (च्छेदोस्थापनीय चरित्र)

- Meaning: Conduct of a monk/nun who has done some fault, and then performs chheda (disciplinary expiation) and is re‑established in conduct. - Nature: There is right conduct, but sometimes lapses (like carelessness), which are then corrected by confession, prāyaścitta, and renewed discipline. - Example: An ascetic who violated a rule slightly, accepts punishment and reforms, continuing on the path.

1. Parihāraviśuddhi Charitra (परिहारविशुद्धि चरित्र)

- Meaning: Purified conduct with careful avoidance (parihāra) of even small faults. - Nature: The monk/nun lives with great alertness: chooses places, food, movement, speech etc. in such a way that minimum harm and minimum new karma arise. - Example: Very careful selection of alms, very careful walking, avoiding even subtle negligence.

1. Sūkṣma Samparāya Charitra (सूक्ष्म संपराय चरित्र)

- Meaning: Conduct where only extremely subtle passion (usually very fine greed or attachment) remains. - Nature: Gross anger, pride, deceit, greed are gone. Only a very sūkṣma (fine) trace of attachment is there; conduct is almost completely pure. - Example: An advanced muni in high guṇasthānas whose life is totally spiritual, but a very faint, hardly noticeable attachment still exists.

1. Yathākhyāta Charitra (यथाख्यात चरित्र)

- Meaning: Conduct exactly as described by the Jina (yathā–ukta by Tirthankaras) – absolutely pure. - Nature: All passions are completely destroyed. This is the perfect conduct of a Kevali (omniscient being), leading directly to moksha. - Example: The conduct of a Tirthankara or any Arihant after attaining Kevala Jñāna, before final liberation.

---

Digambar & Shvetambar view

• Both Digambar and Shvetambar traditions accept this five‑fold classification of Charitra in essence.
• Names and detailed explanations may differ slightly in texts, but the spiritual ladder is the same:

from conduct with some passions → to conduct with only very subtle passion → to perfectly passionless conduct (Yathākhyāta), which is the highest.

For a simple introduction to Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct) as part of Ratnatraya, you can read more here