________________
PRATIKRAMAN - OBSERVANCE OF SELF-REFLECTION
Pratikraman is called Bhäva or internal Pratikraman, which is very useful for purification of the soul.
Eligibility to do Pratikraman
Jain literature clearly indicates that the Pratikraman ritual is meant for repenting and requesting forgiveness for:
"one's past minor violations of the vows that may have occurred knowingly or unknowingly".
As previously mentioned, monks and nuns are to follow the five great vows and for lay people, there are 12 vows of limited nature. Hence the Pratikraman ritual is meant for monks, nuns and only those lay people who follow these vows. The logic is that if one does not practice the vows, then the question of repenting and forgiveness of minor violations of the vows does not arise.
Many Jain lay people do not practice the 12 vows. Therefore, after understanding the purpose and meaning of our great ritual, every Jain should strive to adopt the 12 vows of lay people according to their capacity and circumstances. They should review them before Samvatsari Pratikramana and improve their limits every year in such a way that ultimately they will be able to fully practice the vows and live an ascetic life.
Inclusion of Six Ävashyaks in the Ancient Pratikraman Ävashyak
During the last few centuries, review of Jain literature indicates that the word "Pratikraman" is used as a common noun for all six essential acts (six Ävashyakas). This is also meaningful because during the course of time the Pratikraman ritual has been expanded and enhanced to include the sutras of all other Avashyakas. This way lay people can easily complete all six daily Ävashyak rituals within 48 minutes.
5. - Käyotsarga - Meditation in a Yoga Posture
Käyä means body and Utsarga means moving away or rising above. Hence, Käyotsarga means rising above bodily activities to focus on the inner self, thus developing non-attachment towards our body while in meditation (Käyotsarga). To perform Käyotsarga in its true form, it is necessary to give up all passions.
16
PRATIKRAMAN SUTRA BOOK
