Guidelines to Mahavir Darshan

SR No.: 006758
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satshrutseva Sadhna Kendra
Publisher: Satshrut Seva Sadhna Kendra
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 70
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 4 MB

Page 29

20 PART II
GUIDELINES TO MAHAVIR-DARSHAN
made in the fifth Gunasthana. It is attained after subduing Apratyakhyanavaraniya, i. e. the second category of passions. Here the aspirant is expected to purify his heart every four months. He takes the vows of a householder and leaves off acts of gross violence, falsehood, theft, etc. In short, he is expected to refrain from all criminal acts and to obey the laws of the state.
In addition, he should fix limits for his possessions. He should prepare a list of everything he wants to own even for his personal use and should not go beyond that limit. It is also expected that he should daily scrutinize that list and go on curtailing it. He should also fix limits in all directions for his economic or political expectations. Further a shravaka, as the householder is called in this stage, observes some vows or penances for self-purification as daily or periodical duties. He is generous to a guest of good conduct and serves him with and other necessities with a heart full of devotion.
The sixth Gunasthana is pramattasanyata. The aspirant, through the fifth stage, is a member of society and carries out his duties and obligations to himself as well as to Society. He enjoys family life and worldly pleasure in a moderately controlled form not forgetting his duties and the supreme object. His character is well balanced, without his resorting to either extreme of laxity or complete renunciation.
In the sixth Gunasthana he leaves family life and joins the order of mendicants. He devotes his entire life thenceforth to the attainment of spiritual realisation. He refrains not only from gross sins but from minor sins also. He may not kill any animal harmful or not harmful. Similarly, he must speak no lie and not take even a trivial thing without asking permission of the owner nor may he hold any property. The vows of a monk are called Mahavratas (Complete Vows) in contrast to the Anuvratas (partial vows) of a householder.
This stage is reached after subduing pratyakhyanavaraniya the third category of passions. A monk is expected to purify his heart every fortnight. He has to observe Pratikrmana (repentance for sins committed knowingly or unknowingly) and other purifications daily. This stage is known as Pramatta - Sanyata because the aspirant, though observing complete restraint is open to negligence or slips.