$JES 401 Jain Philosophy and Practice 2 Level 4 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

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A Shrävak is a person though he/she lives in a house with a family, practices the minor vows (Anu-vrata). The word Shrävak is derived from the Sanskrit verb "Shru" meaning to listen. Shrävak listens to the preaching of the Tirthankar or the right guru or reads the Jain canonical books. Shrävak has faith in the path of liberation shown by the Tirthankars. A Shrävak/Shrävikä avoids the non-essential activities, has the right belief, and has suppressed Anantänu-bandhi (long-lasting passions) Kashaya. A Shrävak/Shrävikä feels that the material world (Samsär) is a prison and wants to be free from it.
Jainism has placed a special emphasis on the Shrävak's code of conduct (Shrävakächär). There are many Jain canonical books on Shrävakächär. There are two Ägams, called "Upäsaka-dashänga" and "Dashä-shruta-skandha", which provide the basis for Shrävakächär.
In general, it is very rare to achieve Moksha by practicing Shrävakächär as compared to the practice of Sädhu Dharma. However, there are rare examples in the Jain canonical books that people, who practiced Shrävakächär, have achieved Moksha in the same life (King Bharat and Marudevi Mätä according to Shvetämbar belief). However, according to the Digambar sect, one has to renounce all worldly possessions, become a Sädhu and proceed upward in Gunasthäna to achieve Moksha. Categories of Shrävak
Näm, Sthäpanä, Dravya and Bhäva categories:
Näm Shrävak
Sthäpanä Shrävak Dravya Shrävak Bhäva Shrävak
Shrävaks may also be categorized as:
Päkshika
Naisthika
One who is a Jain in name only (born into a Jain family)
The statue or photograph of a Shrävak
One who follows Jainism without deep faith in it;
One who believes in Jainism and has deep faith and practices accordingly
Sädhaka
A householder who has an inclination (Paksha) towards Ahimsa. He possesses Samyaktva and practices the Mula Gunas (basic restraints) and the Anu-vratas and is diligent in performing the Pujä. One who pursues the path upwards through the Pratimäs, (spiritual path for laymen) until he reaches the eleventh and last Pratimä. At this culminating point, (Nisthä) he abandons the household life and practices the Dharma of the ascetic.
One who concludes his human incarnation in the final purification of the self by performing Sanlekhanä.
Vratas for Shrävaks and Shrävikäs (Vows for a Laypeople)
Jainism preaches for one to lead a simple life by following a life governed by self-imposed limits, carefulness, compassion, non-possessiveness, and nonviolence. Any person, who follows these noble principles, is Jain. A True Jain (Shrävak) is one who has Samyag Darshan or Samyaktva (right belief) and practices Anu-vratas (minor vows).
Märgänusäri Gunas (Thirty Five Qualities)
The kind of life that leads towards that path and all those things that help one to lead such a life constitute the Märgänusäri life or a life leading to a noble householder's life.
To lead such a life our scriptures have defined the following 35 virtues of a Märgänusäri person, which are categorized in four broad categories.
· 11 duties to be carried out in life
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE - 2
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