________________
14-CODE OF CONDUCTS OF MONKS AND LAYPEOPLE
Anartha-danda Vrata
One must not commit unnecessary or purposeless sin or moral offense such as; thinking, talking, or preaching evil or ill of others; manufacturing or supplying arms for attack; reading or listening to immoral literature; being inconsiderate by unnecessarily walking on grass.
Shikshä-vratas (Four Disciplinary Vows):
Sämäyika Vrata
This vow consists of sitting down in one place for at least 48 minutes and by concentrating one's mind on religious activities like reading religious books, praying, or meditating. Also, one should detach from all sinful activities of body, speech, and mind.
Desävakäsika Vrata
This vow sets a new limit within the limitations already set by Dik Vrata and Bhoga Upbhoga Vrata. The general life-long limitation of doing business in certain areas and the use of articles are further restricted for particular days and times of the week.
Paushadha Vrata
This vow requires a person to live the life of an ascetic for a day or longer. During this time, one should renounce all sinful activities, abstain from seeking pleasure from all objects of the senses, and observe due restraint of body, speech and mind. A person follows the five great vows (Mahä vratas) completely during this time.
Atithi Samvibhäg Vrata (Charity vow)
One should give food, clothes, shelter, medicine, and other articles of one's own possession to monks, nuns, and pious and needy people. The food should be offered with reverence and be pure.
C. Sanlekhanä (Process of Spiritual Death):
Jainism allows a highly spiritually advanced person to die voluntarily, following the proper process of Sanlekhanä. It is a voluntarily chosen method of death while in ultra-pure meditation
JAINISM AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
87
