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## First Study: The Joy of the Layman
[63 Discussions]
The twelve vows of a lay person are divided into five anuvratas and seven shikshavrata. Anuvrata is the fundamental vow. Shikshavrata is for their nourishment, enhancement, and development. The meaning of shiksha is practice. These vows are particularly useful in bringing stability to the practice or sadhana of anuvratas.
From a linguistic perspective, these seven (shiksha) vows have been divided in two ways. They are all called shikshavrata, as mentioned earlier. The first three - anarthadandaviramana, digvrata, and upabhog-paribhog-parimana gunavrata - and the last four - samayaik, deshavakashik, poshadhopavas, and atithisanvibhaga - are called shikshavrata.
The reason for calling them gunavrata is generally that they are helpful in the qualitative development of anuvratas or they increase the character-based qualities of the practitioner. The next four are mainly practice-oriented, so the word "shiksha" is naturally associated with them in a descriptive sense.
Generally speaking, both gunavrata and shikshavrata are helpful in the practice of anuvratas, so it is appropriate to call all seven shikshavrata in a broad sense.
The order of the seven shikshavrata, as found in the औपपातिक सूत्र (Aupapatik Sutra) etc., is mentioned here. The order is slightly different in Acharya Umaswati's Tattvarth Sutra. In Tattvarth Sutra, the order of these vows is dig, desh, anarth-dand-virati, samayaik, poshadhopavas, upabhog-paribhog-parimana, and atithi-sanvibhaga. There, they are not called shikshavrata, but it is only said that the lay person is also endowed with these vows. However, even with a slight difference in order, there is no difference in meaning.
After accepting the twelve vows of a lay person, Anand made a special resolution. Behind this resolution is the desire to remain strong and stable in the principles of dharma that he had accepted with understanding and discernment. Therefore, he does not want to maintain contact with people from other religious groups, so that no such occasion arises in life that could lead to deviation.
One might ask, if Anand had accepted the principles of dharma with thought and understanding, why was he so apprehensive? This seems reasonable on the surface, but let's delve deeper. The human mind is very emotional. Emotionality sometimes overshadows reason, causing a person to be swept away by it, which can shake their true faith. This is the reason for Anand's resolution.
The word chaitya used in this context is somewhat controversial. The word chaitya is polysemous. The well-known
1. दिग्देशानर्थदण्डविरतिसामायिकपोषधोपवासोपभोगपरिभोगपरिमाणाऽतिथिसंविभागव्रतसंपन्नश्च।
Tattvarth Sutra 7.16