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RITUALS
Sutras Recited During Käyotsarga Avashyaka:
Introspection and Käyotsarga Arihanta-cheiyänam, Annattha, and Namaskär Sutra
6. Pratyäkhyäna or Pachchakhäna - Taking Religious Vows
Pratyäkhyän or Pachchakkhän refers to the abandonment of things harmful to the soul and acceptance of things beneficial to the soul. Taking Pachchakkhän is taking vows appropriate to our capabilities, disengaging from worldly objects, and engaging in the process of purification. When we take Pachchakkhän, we renounce certain activities for a pre-determined period of time to discipline ourselves. The Shrävaks take partial vows and ascetics take the great vows. Thus, taking religious vows (self-control, renunciation of sinful activities, or doing pious activities) is called pratyäkhyäna. Types of Pratyäkhyäna:
There are two types of Pratyäkhyän:
External (Dravya)
Internal (Bhäva)
D05 - Six Ävashyakas (Six Essentials and Daily Observances)
Renunciation of external things like food, shelter and other possessions is Dravya pratyäkhyäna.
Renunciation of internal impure states of the soul such as ignorance, anger, greed, ego, deceit, nonrestraint, attachment and aversion are known as Bhäva or true Pratyäkhyäna.
One cannot attain true Bhäva Pratyäkhyäna without performing complete Dravya Pratyäkhyäna. For instance, one can begin by renouncing delicious food and other luxuries and live a simple life. The true performance of Bhäva pratyäkhyäna (true renunciation) leads to stoppage of new karma (Samvara), which gives rise to ultimate equanimity (Sambhäva), and the attainment of liberation.
Hence the religious vows foster spiritual advancement through self-control.
03 Six Essential Observances of Digambar Tradition
Digambar developed a list of practices quite similar to this canonical tradition but moved towards a great emphasis upon the popular aspect of ritual. These practices therefore constitute the fundamental modes of religious expression for the Jain laity.
Devapujä
Guru-upästi
Swadhyay
Sanyam
Tapa Dän
To pray and appreciate the qualities of the twenty-four Tirthankars
Devotion and service to Guru Maharaj (ascetics)
Studying of Scriptures
Self-restraint - To carry out the householder's vows (Anuvrata) with complete selfdiscipline
Penance or Austerities which include Pratikraman, Pratyäkhyän, and Käyotsarga Charity - giving alms to mendicants and needy.
1. Devapujä - Worship of Supreme Soul
Reverential recalling and devotionally praising the supreme soul and its spiritual qualities is Pujä. This is the best way to remove the internal defilement, to purify thoughts, to cultivate good mental states and to rouse and develop spiritual powers. Bhäva-pujä (internal worship) consists in meditation on the supreme soul and internal efforts for being one with it. The external formal ritual that assists Bhäva-pujä is Dravya-pujä (external worship).
"Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, non-greed, devotion to and service of the elders, austerity and knowledge are the auspicious pure flowers. We offer these flowers to the supreme soul by cultivating these good qualities. Offering of these flowers is "Shuddha-pujä (pure worship)."
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
Page 235 of 398
