Pratikraman Observance of Self Reflection

Author(s): Pravin K Shah
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee
Catalog link: https://jainqq.org/explore/200019/1

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Pratikraman - Observance of Self-Reflection (English Pratikraman) Jainism believes that from time immemorial, every soul is full of impurities. Mithyatva (Ignorance) and Kashaya (anger, ego, deceit, and greed) which arise from attachment and hatred are the soul's impurities. To reduce and to remove such impurities, Jainism has prescribed certain practices known as Avashyaka (essential practices) to be performed daily and regularly by all Jains. These practices free the human mind from negative thoughts of attachment and hatred and enhance the soul's spiritual progress, ultimately leading to liberation. Ancient Jain literature defines six such activities. Six Avashyaks or Daily Practices: 1. Samayika State of Equanimity for certain duration 2. Chauvisattho or Devotional Prayer to Tirthankars Chaturvimshati-Stava 3. Vandana Respecting Ascetics 4. Pratikraman Repentance and Confession of Sins of minor violations of Vows 5. Kayotsarga Non-attachment to the Body 6. Pratyakhyana or Religious Vows Pachchakhana Each Avashyak ritual includes many original Sutras written in Ardha-Magadhi and Sanskrit languages. These Sutras consist of many hymns in praise of the Tirthankaras and many verses of repentance, confession, and requests for forgiveness. Samayika - State of Equanimity To remain in the state of equanimity without attachment and hatred, and to treat all living beings equal to one's self is called Samayika. Equanimity is the act of remaining calm and tranquil. It implies neutrality of mind and temper. It is essential for the practice of nonviolence and removal of Mithyatva and Kashayas, which ultimately removes all Karma. This ritual is performed to develop equal regard towards all living beings, equanimity towards pleasure and pain, and to be free from attachment and aversion. * During Samayika, a devotee renounces worldly activities, fully controls his or her mind, speech and bodily activities, and lives the life of an ascetic. It is important to remain calm, meditate, read scriptures, or perform pratikramana ritual and request for forgiveness for one's sins. One should reflect on the following attributes of the soul: * Equanimity towards all beings Self-control with pure aspirations Abandonment of all thoughts tainted by desire and aversion. During Samayika, if one thinks about material happiness, family, friends, and relationships, all of which are not true reflections of the soul, , one should meditate on the Sutra called: "NA-HAM" - I am not that To reinforce identification with the soul, which has the qualities of perfect knowledge, vision, bliss, and power, meditate on the Sutra: "SO-HAM" - I am that By meditating on the true nature of the soul, bad karmas (sins) are eradicated. Therefore, it is recommended that all Jains perform Samayika as often as possible and at any time of the day. Types of Samayika There are two types of Samayika - partial and complete. Complete Samayika relates to monks and nuns because they practice equanimity at all times. The partial Samayika is for lay people (Shravaks and

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Shravikas) so that they can learn to gradually detach themselves from all external objects. The minimum duration for the partial Samayika is 48 minutes. Faults to be avoided during Samayika: Jain scriptures describe 32 faults of Mind, Speech, and Body to be avoided during Samayika. Ten Faults of Mind * To perform Samayika without respect to its goals or procedures To perform Samayika for prestige To perform Samayika out of greed To perform Samayika for vanity * To perform Samayika under pressure from others or without conviction Ten Faults of Speech To use offensive speech * * * * * To perform Samayika out of fear To perform Samayika for material rewards and power To perform Samayika with doubts * To perform Samayika with anger To perform Samayika with impertinence, without respect to Tirthankar (Dev), Teacher (Guru), and Religion (Dharma) * To speak without thinking To speak or sing such songs that arouse uncontrollable emotions To use condensed sutras for convenience or to save time To use quarrelsome language To gossip Twelve Faults of the Body * To sit with one leg over the other * To sit with unsteady posture To sit with wavering eyesight To digress or to deviate from Samayika for domestic or other work To lean against something To use mocking language To use hasty speech without clarity To use irrational speech To use unclear and ambiguous speech To stretch the body, hands, and legs without reason To stretch the body lazily or to sleep To make sounds by stretching fingers of hands and feet (cracking knuckles) To remove dirt from the body To sit with one's hand on the head or forehead in a sorrowful posture or to walk without carefully sweeping the floor * To sleep or to remain idle To cause oneself to be served by others without a reason Sutras Recited During 1st Samayika Avashyak Jain Prayer to Great Souls Benedictory Verse Guru Sthapana Forgiveness Verse of Namaskar Mahamangal Sutra Chattari Mangalam Sutra Panchindiya Sutra Irya Vahiyae Sutra

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Tassa Uttari and Annattha Sutra Samayika Introspection and Kayotsarga Vow of Samayika Concluding Vows of Samayika Guru Utthapana Karemi Bhante Sutra Samaiya-vaya-jutto Sutra Namaskar Mahamangal Sutra Chaturvimshati Stava - Prayer to Tirthankars This is the reverential worship of the twenty-four Tirthankars to reflect on their qualities, such as freedom from attachment and aversion (Vitaragatva). Types of Devotional Prayer The devotional prayer is also of two types; external (dravya) and internal (bhava). To express one's devotion by worshipping Tirthankars' idols with purifying substances like rice and flowers constitutes external praise (dravya stuti), while to devotionally praise their inherent qualities is internal praise (bhava stuti). During Pratikraman, this is accomplished through the recitation of the following Sutras Namutthunam Sutra praises the qualities and virtues of the Tirthankar * Logassa Sutra worships all 24 Tirthankars by name * Jaya Viyaraya Sutra is a devotional prayer to Tirthankar Pukkhara-vara-di Sutra salutes the teachings (Agam scriptures) of the Tirthankaras Siddhanam buddhanam sutra bows to all Siddhas along with Lord Mahavir and the pilgrimage (Tirtha) places where the Tirthankaras have attained nirvana These prayers inspire an individual to practice these ideals in his/her own life. In this Pratikraman, we have incorporated Namutthunam, Logassa, and Jaya Viyaraya Sutras. Sutras Recited During Chaturvimshati Stava Avashyak Worshiping of 24 Tirthankars Logassa Ujjoyagare Sutra Saluting Qualities of Tirthankars Namutthunam Sutra Devotional Prayer to Tirthankars Jaya Viyaraya Sutra Vandana - Respecting Ascetics Vandana means paying respect to all ascetics including Acharyas, Upadhyayas, and all other Sadhus and Sadhvis. Types of Vandana: There are three types of Vandana defined in Jain literature. If we meet an ascetic on the road or any other places, we can just bow our head by saying 'Matthaena Vandami' or 'Vandami Namamsami', which means I bow to you. If we visit ascetics in their Upashray (temporary residence), then we should inquire about their well-being and request forgiveness for any impoliteness towards them. Pratikraman ritual should be done in the presence of an ascetic. During the traditional Pratikraman ritual, one recites Suguru Vandana sutra, which is a complete Vandana of an ascetic. For English Pratikraman, we have chosen the second type of Vandana, because this will be most useful when any English speaking Jain visits an ascetic in an Upashray. However the complete Vandana (third type - Suguru Vandana sutra) is defined in Appendix of this book. Sutras Recited During 3rd Vandana Avashyak Bowing to Ascetics Ichchhami Khamasamano Sutra Bowing to Ascetics Tikhutto Sutra Wellness of Guru Icchakara sutra

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Ascetics Forgiveness Sutra Abbhutthio Sutra Pratikraman - Repentance and Confession of Sins "Prati" means "back" and "kraman" means "to go". It means to go back, to reflect and review, to confess and atone, asking for forgiveness from others for one's own faults of mind, body, and speech in one's daily activities, and forgiving faults of others and extending friendship to all. Therefore, Pratikraman involves repentance and sincere confession for past sinful deeds and thoughts as well as the forgiveness of others' faults. This process of self-discipline provides protection from present sinful acts, and prevents future sinful acts through renunciation. Types of Pratikraman Jain monks and nuns must perform this ritual in accordance with tradition. Devoted Jain lay people staunchly observe this ritual while others practice it as often as possible It is recommended that Pratikraman be done twice a day, once in the morning known as Rai Pratikraman and once in the evening known as Devasi Pratikraman. The morning Pratikraman is for the atonement of minor violations of vows incurred during the night and the evening Pratikraman is for the minor violation of Vows of the day. There is a special Pratikramn for every fortnight (Pakkhi), every four months (Chaumasi), and yearly (Samvatsari) Pratikraman if not possible to perform the daily Pratikramans. The annual Pratikraman that all Jains should strive to observe is called Samvatsari Pratikraman. The Samvatsari Pratikraman is performed on the last day of Paryushan and is followed by forgiveness, i.e. asking forgiveness for our wrongdoings to all living beings and forgiving others for their faults. It generates feelings of friendliness and love towards all. Pratikraman (self-analysis) can make our lives happy and peaceful as well as build a harmonious society. Dravya and Bhava Pratikraman The Jain ethics system outlines 5 great vows to be practiced by monks and nuns who have totally renounced worldly life. However for lay people, it outlines 12 vows (Vratas) of limited nature (see Appendix) that are less intense than those followed by monks and nuns. Jainism defines that everyone should strive to adopt these vows according to one's individual capacity and circumstances. The ultimate goal is to accept them as full vows. In order to effectively avoid sinful activities, one should abandon wrong belief (Mithyatva), an unrestrained lifestyle (Avirati), unawareness, laziness, or lethargy (Pramada), passions (Kashaya) and inauspicious activities of body, speech, and mind (Aprashasta Yoga). To accept right faith or conviction, achieve self-restraint, become spiritually vigilant, cultivate good qualities like compassion and nonviolence, and attain the true nature of soul after giving up worldly activities is the essence of Pratikraman. In other words, it means returning to and reaffirming the path of nonviolence, truthfulness, and non-attachment. During Pratikraman, a lay person reflects on these vows and repents and requests for forgiveness for minor violations (known as Atichar) that may have been committed knowingly or unknowingly. Contemplation on each of these vows takes place so that we are more aware of such circumstances and can avoid such minor violations of vows in the future. If Pratikraman is performed only to confess past sinful acts and with an open declaration not to commit them in future, but the individual readily commits sinful activities, then this type of recitation of the ritual is called Dravya or external Pratikraman. Dravya Pratikraman is not useful; on the contrary, it is harmful. It deceives one's own self and is meant simply to deceive others. If after the performance of Pratikraman ritual, an individual minimizes or eliminates sinful activities in real life, then the Pratikraman is called Bhava or internal Pratikraman, which is very useful for purification of the soul.

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Eligibility to do Pratikraman Jain literature clearly indicates that the Pratikraman ritual is meant for repenting and requesting forgiveness for "one's past minor violations of the vows that may have occurred knowingly or unknowingly". As previously mentioned, monks and nuns are to follow the he the 5 great vows and for lay people, there are 12 vows of limited nature. Hence the Pratikraman ritual is meant for monks, nuns and only those lay people who follow these vows. The logic is that if one does not practice the vows, then the question of repenting and forgiveness of minor violations of the vows does not arise. Many Jain lay people do not practice the 12 vows. Therefore, after understanding the purpose and meaning of our great ritual, every Jain should strive to adopt the 12 vows of lay people according to their capacity and circumstances. They should review them before Samvatsari Pratikramana and improve their limits every year in such a way that ultimately they will be able to fully practice the vows and live an ascetic life. Inclusion of Six Avashyaks in the Ancient Pratikraman Avashyak During the last few centuries, review of Jain literature indicates that the word "Pratikraman" is used as a common noun for all six essential acts (six Avashyakas). This is also meaningful because during the course of time the Pratikraman ritual has been expanded and enhanced to include the sutras of all other Avashyakas. This way lay people can easily complete all six daily Avashyak rituals within 48 minutes. Sutras Recited During the 4th Pratikraman Avashyak General repentance of all Sins Samvatsaria (Devasia) Padikkamane Thaum? Sutra Repentance of Sins to all Living Sata Lakha Sutra Beings of the universe Atonement of Eighteen Sins 18 Papsthanak Sutra Atichar for minor violations of Contemporary Text Lay people's Vows Universal Forgiveness to All Khamemi Savve Jiva Sutra Living Beings Kayotsarga - Meditation in a Yoga Posture Kaya means body and Utsarga means moving away or rising above. Hence, Kayotsarga means rising above bodily activities to focus on the inner self, thus developing non-attachment towards our body while in meditation (Kayotsarga). To perform Kayotsarga in its true form, it is necessary to give up all passions. Attachment to one's body must be renounced in order to attain virtuous meditation (Dharma Dhyana) and pure meditation (Shukla Dhyana). During Pratikraman ritual, this is accomplished by meditation upon 12 Namaskar Sutra Kausagga after repentance and confession of sins. Sutras Recited During 5th Kayotsarga Avashyaka Introspection and Arihanta-cheivanam, Annattha, and Kayotsarga Namaskar Sutra Pratyakhyana or Pachchakhana - Taking Religious Vows Taking religious vows (self control, renunciation of sinful activities, or doing pious activities) is called pratyakhyana. This declaration is of two types - external (Dravya) and internal (Bhava). External or Dravya pratyakhyana Renunciation of external things like food, shelter and other possessions is Dravya pratyakhyana.

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Internal or Bhava Pratyakhyana Renunciation of internal impure states of the soul such as ignorance, anger, greed, ego, deceit, nonrestraint, attachment and aversion are known as Bhava or true Pratyakhyana. One cannot attain true Bhava Pratyakhyana without performing complete Dravya Pratyakhyana. For instance, one can begin by renouncing delicious food and other luxuries and live a simple life. The true performance of Bhava pratyakhyana (true renunciation) leads to stoppage of new karma (Samvara), which gives rise to ultimate equanimity (Sambhava), and the attainment of liberation. Hence the religious vows foster spiritual advancement through self-control. Reflections on Spirituality At the conclusion of the Pratikraman, we have added certain sutras to reflect upon the qualities of our true teacher (Sadguru), universal peace, universal friendship, and spirituality of self by reciting certain sutras and text. Sutras Recited During Reflections Reflection on True Teacher Some sutras from Atmasiddhi (Sadguru) Shastra Reflection on Universal Peace Upsargah Kshayam Yanti Sutra Reflection on Universal Shivmastu Sarva Sutra Friendship Reflection on Spirituality and Some sutras from Atmasiddhi Pure Consciousness Shastra and Simple Text Pravin K Shah Jaina Education Committee jainaedu@gmail.com 919-859-4994