In Jain Dharma, these are the five stages/types of conduct (cāritra) that describe the gradual purification of the soul on the path of liberation. They are especially discussed in relation to saṃyama and the 14 guṇasthānas.

1) Samayik Cāritra

Meaning: “Samayik” means equanimity—to remain steady in the soul, free from attachment and hatred.

Nature:

• The aspirant renounces हिंसा, असatya, chori, abrahma, and parigraha mentally and physically as much as possible.
• The mind is trained to remain in samatva (balance).
• It is the basic form of spiritual conduct.

Main feature:

• One practices temporary restraint and inner calm.
• It is commonly associated with the early spiritual stage, especially for householders and beginners.

Purpose:

• To reduce passions like anger, pride, deceit, and greed.
• To develop awareness of the soul.

In simple words: It is the practice of staying spiritually balanced and detached for a fixed period.

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2) Chedopasthāpaniya Cāritra

Meaning: This is a higher form of conduct in which, after a lapse or fault, the person is reinstated into disciplined life through repentance and correction.

Nature:

• “Cheda” means re-establishment after interruption or “cutting off” earlier defects.
• “Upasthāpaniya” means to be established again.
• It applies to a person who has already adopted restraint but may have been weakened by faults, and then returns to a stricter discipline.

Main feature:

• Past errors are corrected.
• The person is again established in monastic discipline.

Purpose:

• To purify conduct after any decline.
• To strengthen vows and discipline through renewed commitment.

In simple words: It is the stage where a disciplined person is corrected and restored to pure conduct.

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3) Parihāra-viśuddhi Cāritra

Meaning: This means conduct purified through special avoidance and careful discipline.

Nature:

• This is an extremely refined and strict stage of conduct.
• The practitioner lives with great caution, avoiding causes of impurity.
• It involves intense self-restraint and special spiritual purification.

Main feature:

• Highly pure observance.
• Very subtle avoidance of faults.
• This stage is rare and advanced.

Purpose:

• To remove deep impurities of karma.
• To prepare the soul for still subtler spiritual progress.

In simple words: It is a very pure and careful stage of conduct aimed at deep inner cleansing.

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4) Sūkṣma-sāmparāya Cāritra

Meaning: “Sūkṣma” means subtle, and “sāmparāya” refers to passions. So this is the stage where only very subtle passions remain.

Nature:

• Gross passions like strong anger, pride, deceit, and greed have been greatly subdued.
• Only the finest trace of greed or passion remains.
• The soul is almost fully purified.

Main feature:

• Very subtle attachment remains.
• This is a highly advanced spiritual stage.

Purpose:

• To weaken the last traces of passion.
• To move toward complete destruction of delusion and bondage.

In simple words: It is the stage where passions are almost gone, leaving only the subtlest trace.

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5) Yathākhyāta Cāritra

Meaning: “Yathākhyāta” means exactly as it is described—perfect and complete conduct.

Nature:

• This is the highest and perfect form of conduct.
• The soul is free from all passions and defects.
• There is complete right conduct without any inner impurity.

Main feature:

• Absolute purity of conduct.
• Full spiritual discipline.
• This is the conduct of a fully liberated or nearly liberated soul, depending on doctrinal context.

Purpose:

• It represents the culmination of ethical and spiritual purification.
• It leads to moksha.

In simple words: It is perfect conduct, completely free from attachment, hatred, and delusion.

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Overall progression

These five cāritras show the gradual purification of the soul:

1. Samayik – beginning equanimity
2. Chedopasthāpaniya – restoration after faults
3. Parihāra-viśuddhi – special purified discipline
4. Sūkṣma-sāmparāya – only subtle passions remain
5. Yathākhyāta – complete, perfect conduct

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Core spiritual meaning

In Jainism, cāritra is not just external behavior. It means:

• control of the senses,
• purity of mind,
• freedom from passions,
• and steady abidance in the soul.

The deeper the cāritra, the closer the soul comes to kevala-jñāna and moksha.

If you want, I can also explain these with the 14 guṇasthānas in a simple chart.