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In his life dedicated to the great vows, he himself is inspired and ascends the path of sadhana or worship, he is a Shramanopasak. This is the way to achieve worship or adoration. It is not possible for life to change just by reading or listening. The proximity of a life filled with sadhana, great vows, and high sadhana creates a zeal and a desire in the mind of the individual to move towards it. Therefore, the use of the word Shramanopasak for a householder sadhak is truly meaningful.
In the same context, there is a beautiful explanation in the Chandogya Upanishad. It is written there:
"When the power is awakened in the person who is engaged in sadhana, he rises, that is, he makes internal preparations. Rising, he serves, he moves towards it with his inner strength. Then he sits near the Guru, observes his life, listens to him [about the principles of Dharma], contemplates what he has heard, becomes enlightened, and conducts himself accordingly in life. When this happens, he is called a knower, a special knower, having practiced what he knows."
The Upanishad writer has analyzed the fruition of sadhana from a psychological perspective in a very beautiful way. The role of a Shramanopasak is also almost the same. He does not become a Shramanopasak just by sitting near a Shraman, nor does he become so just by listening. The true implementation of Shramanopasaktva happens when he renounces the false and is devoted to the true. In Jain terminology, he rejects Samyak Savadhana and accepts vows.
Another word for Shramanopasak is Shravak. This word is derived from the root 'shru'. The meaning of Shravak is a listener. Here, Shravak - listener is a figurative word. By listening to the teachings of the Shraman, he becomes a listener, but not a Shravak. He receives the designation of Shravak only when he accepts the vows. The vows of a Shravak are a psychological process.
In Jainism, the process of accepting vows by a Shramanopasak or Shravak is also very scientific. He accepts non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession, but in a limited way. That is, he accepts these vows with some exceptions, according to the inner strength and ability he is able to gather. Thus, the vows accepted by a Shravak are less or smaller than the vows of a Shraman in terms of observance, therefore they are called Anuvratas. The vow itself is not great or small. The adjectives great or small are applied to the vow due to the ability or capacity of the observer. As mentioned above, where the sadhak does not see any deficiency or lack in his inner strength, he fully, completely observes the vow.
1. "When he becomes strong, then he rises, rising he serves, serving he sits near, sitting near he sees, he contemplates, he understands, he acts, he knows."
- Chandogya Upanishad 7.8.1
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