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## Sixth Stage
The fifth stage described the ten samadhis. Achieving samadhi is essential for everyone in the world. Achieving samadhi through the life of a monk is the best, but it is not possible for everyone to achieve samadhi through the life of a monk. In the world, there are many people who cannot adopt the life of a monk due to lack of practice, so it is appropriate for them to achieve samadhi through the life of a lay follower. In this sixth stage, the sutra-maker describes the eleven vows (pratimaa) of a lay follower, keeping in mind the fifth stage. This is also its subject.
These vows are also called Upasaka-pratimaa. One who sits near the monks with the desire to listen to the Dharma is called an Upasaka, as in "One who sits near the monks with the desire to listen to the Dharma is called an Upasaka." Upasakas are of four types based on their substance, purpose, delusion, and feeling. Their characteristics are as follows:
1. **Dravya-Upasaka:** One whose body is fit to be an Upasaka, who has bound the karma of being an Upasaka in the past life, and whose name, lineage, etc. karma have come to the fore in the present life.
2. **Tad-artha-Upasaka:** One who desires to obtain something. This desire is of three types based on the object of desire: sentient, non-sentient, and mixed. Sentient desire is also of two types: bipedal and quadrupedal. The desire for a son, friend, wife, and servant, etc. is called bipedal, and the desire for cows, etc. is called quadrupedal.
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