Short answer: Two ways.

1) Samvara (stop new karmas)

• Meaning: preventing fresh karmic inflow by right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct (Ratnatraya).
• Main means taught in Jain texts:

- 3 Guptis (restraints of mind, speech, body) - 5 Samitis (carefulness in walking, speaking, eating, lifting/placing objects, and disposing of waste) - Yati-dharma/Charitra (vows; non‑violence etc.) - 12 Bhavnas/Anuprekshas (reflections that produce detachment) - Endurance of the 22 Parishahas (hardships) with equanimity These cultivate non‑attachment (vitaragata) so no new karmas bind.

2) Nirjara (shed old karmas)

• Meaning: removing already‑bound karmas through austerity and inner purification.
• Classic 12 Tapas (austerities):

- External (6): anashana (fasting), unodari (eating less), vritti‑parisankhyana/saṅkṣepa (limiting food means), rasa‑parityaga (giving up tastes), kaya‑klesha (bodily discipline), samlinata (seclusion/quietude). - Internal (6): prayaścitta (repentance), vinaya (reverence), vaiyavritya (service), svadhyaya (scriptural study), vyutsarga/kayotsarga (abandonment of attachment to body), dhyana (meditation).

• Two modes are described: savipaka (shedding by calmly bearing fruition) and avipaka (premature shedding through tapas).

Putting both together

• When samvara stops new bondage and nirjara exhausts past bondage, the soul attains kevaljnana (destruction of ghati karmas). With the end of the lifespan, the remaining aghati karmas fall away and the soul becomes a Siddha (liberated).

Notes on traditions

• Both Shvetambar and Digambar traditions agree on these two fundamental ways (samvara and nirjara). Minor differences are mainly in terminology and emphasis, not in the core principle of stopping inflow and shedding past karmas.

Essence

• Freedom from karma is achieved in two ways: stop new karma (samvara) and remove old karma (nirjara). Practice the Ratnatraya, curb passions (kashayas), live the vows carefully, reflect (bhavnas), endure calmly, and observe the 12 tapas.