9. Jain ethical fundamentals visible on Indus seals
The path of Jina is to progress towards nirwana, which can only be reached from human (male) incarnation through austerity with the Great Vows or Mahavrats indicated by the pichhi 
or peacock-feather brush held by the Jain ascetics, who observe the balance of Nishchaya and Vyavahaar Dharm indicated by two cherries 
or kawati carried by the guru with renunciation 
holding responsibility of guiding both shrawak/ shrawikas and the sadhu/ aryikas possessing ratnatraya 
and the four anuyogas 
for knowledge, having faith in 
five parameshthis, the six eternal 
components of Universe, the seven 
tattwas of the soul, the eight karmas 
to be countered and the nine padarthas which are very skillfully
presented in this ethical and artistic seal depicting a text that a householder accepting self-restriction 
became a yogi 
and with Ratnatraya 
took Mahavrata 
observing the Jain ethics. Finally he took sallekhana 
and ended the four Ghatia karmas in this very life 
, thus ending his cycles of rebirths. This is shown in this seal:
Further seals explain the ethical values of vertical lines in their symbolic texts. The lines numbering from 1 to 13 in these seals in increasing sequential order denote the Jain fundamental ethics.
One must read the ancient Jain scriptures to understand them. The values of the eight karmas, nine Padarthas, ten dharmas, eleven pratimas etc. should also be noted.
Next issue: 10. The Jain path