Both, stoppage and shedding, of karma are caused by penance. Self-restraint is rational curbing of the activities of body, speech and mind. Endurance of suffering is essential for the continuation of spiritual advancement and for shedding of karma. Proper conduct includes equanimity, reinitiation, absolute nonviolence, freedom from subtle passions and passionless actions. External penance includes total fasting, partial fasting, special restrictions in accepting food, giving up delicacies, sleeping in a lonely place and mortification of body.
Internal penance includes atonement, reverence, service, study, renunciation and meditation.
Atonement entails self-criticism, repentance, both, refined judgement, renunciation, penance, suspension, expulsion and reinitiation. Study includes teaching, questioning, contemplation, recitation and preaching. Meditation Meditation is concentration of thoughts on one particular object by a person with good physical constitution. It lasts for less than 48 minutes. Righteous and spiritual meditations lead to salvation.