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## 234
## Dasha Shruta Skandha Sutra
**Being engrossed in desires is the cause of the origin of Artha Dhyana.** The feeling of fear due to not getting the desired object, the feeling of violence towards stationary beings, the feeling of falsehood, and the feeling of stealing, always having the desire to dominate others, feeling jealous of others' progress and the intention to hinder it, are the causes of the origin of Roudra Dhyana.
**Sixth Dasha**
The Shramanopasaka should abandon these Dhyanas and spend his time in Dharma Dhyana, because he has to separate his soul from worldly activities. Therefore, he should remain separate from the aforementioned Dhyanas and, while practicing Bhiksha-Vriti (begging for food) in a useful way, should follow the eleventh pratima. Its duration is from one day, two days, or three days at the lowest, and up to eleven months at the highest. That is, if the Shramanopasaka who has attained the eleventh pratima dies before eleven months or becomes a Dikshit, then the duration will be the lowest or middle. And if neither of these happens, then he will have to follow it for eleven months with the aforementioned Abhigraha.
In this way, the elder Bhagavants have established eleven Upasaka Pratimas.
Here, the question arises: Should one become a Dikshit only after observing the eleven Pratimas, or can one become a Dikshit before that? In response, it is said that if it happens in this way, then it is very good. Because, just as there is a provision for four Ashramas - Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasa or Yati - in non-Jain religions, so too is it in Jainism. But generally, the statement is found: "Tatah pratimaakaranamantrenapi pravrajya samyagbhavati," meaning that even without observing the Pratimas, one can become a Dikshit. But this statement is an exception. Shri Gautam, etc., Ganadharas and Jambu Kumar, etc., Mahamunis became Dikshits without observing the Pratimas. Generally, if someone wants to become a Dikshit after observing the Pratimas, then they can, but this rule is not necessary. Regarding Dharma-Kiryas, the Sutrakar writes: "Samayam goyam! Ma pamayaye," meaning that one should not be negligent even for a moment in Dharma-Kiryas. However, there is no provision in the Sutras that one should become a Dikshit only after observing the Pratimas. Rather, there are statements that one should never delay in performing religious duties. For example, when Shri Bhagavan Arishta Nemiji had Gajasukumar, etc., and Shri Shraman Bhagavan Mahavira Swami had...