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1. Sämäyika- Equanimity.
Sämäyika means to remain calm and undisturbed, to get detached from daily activities and to engage in spiritual activities to be free of all passions, and not to have feeling of liking, disliking, attachment, desire, or aversion. Sämäyika is the process that enhances the quality of equanimity. It helps to take one closer to the soul and to acquire a stable mind and temperament.
SIX ESSENTIALS (AVASHYAKA)
No one has attained Moksha and no one will attain Moksha without the practice of Sämäyika. To treat all living beings equal is the Sämäyika. To abandon wrongful activities and to practice spiritually right activities is Sämäyika. Sämäyika is the true conduct. Sämäyika is the essence of Tirthankar's teachings. One has to practice Sämäyika to attain the right perception, the right knowledge and the right conduct. Jain monks and nuns are in the state of equanimity (Sämäyika) throughout their life. A devout Shrävak practices Sämäyika everyday. Great detail on the subject of Sämäyika is in the Jain canonical books. One should practice at least one Sämäyika a day, if not more. Time spent in Sämäyika is time spent as a Sädhu.
2. Chaturvimshati-Stava - Praying and appreciating the qualities of the twenty-four Tirthankars.
Logassa Sutra is the Chaturvimshati-Stava. By reciting Logassa Sutra with true faith, one purifies their thoughts, and attains the right perception. One who has the right perception attains Moksha in a relatively short time. By praising the qualities of Tirthankars, passions are subdued.
3. Vandanä - Respecting and saluting Guru Maharaj.
In the absence of Tirthankar, our true teachers are our Jain Ächäryas, Upadhyäys and Sädhus, who show us the path of liberation. They are the practitioners of the true path of salvation. By paying respect to Jain monks and nuns, one becomes humble, controls his ego and pride; and develops the quality of humility (Vinay). This process subdues our passions, and helps us advance spiritually.
4. Pratikraman - Reviewing our daily activities, and expressing remorse for sinful activities.
Pratikraman is the most important Ävashyaka (essential rite). "Prati" means "back" and "Kraman" means "to go", i.e. to go back, review, confess, and repent the bad thoughts and deeds from our activities. It also means going back to the path of nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy and non-attachment, and forgiving the faults of others, asking forgiveness for our faults without any reservation, and extending friendship. This will stop (Samvar) the influx (Äsrava) of karma that covers the true nature of our soul (self, Jiv, or Ätmä), which has the qualities of perfect knowledge, vision, bliss, and power. Pratikraman is like a mirror where we see our selves internally, the way it is. We see our faults, and wrong doings. We ask for forgiveness for all wrongful acts, and take vows to minimize such acts.
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