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JAINA ETHICS
is a layman who has inclination (pakṣa) towards Ahimsa. He possesses samyaktva and practises the mula-gunas and the aņuvratas and is assiduous in performing the pūjā; ii) Naisthika is one who pursues his path upwards through the pratimas till he reaches the eleventh stage. At the culminating point (niṣṭhā), he quits the household life and practises the ten-fold dharma of the ascetic. It would seem that if he backslides, he is downgraded to the state of a pakṣika; iii) sadhaka is one who concludes (sādhayati) his human incarnation in a final purification of the self by carrying out ṣallekhană. It may be added that naiṣṭika also means one who is devoted and is possessed of full faith in the tenets. The classification is inherent in the weaknesses of human nature and expects the layman or laywoman to follow the rules of conduct and the vows to the best of his or her capacity and understanding.
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It was during the time of Bhagavan Mahavira that the society came to be divided into four groups: sādhu (ascetic), sādhvi (female ascetic), śrāvaka (house-holder), śrāvikā (female house-holder). The rules of conduct drescribed for the first two classes were almost identical; similar rules were enjoined upon the last two classes. The conduct of each class was regulated by vows which every member was required to observe in his or her daily life.
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What is a vow? It is a solemn resolve made after deliberation to observe a particular rule of conduct; it is made before a saint on his advice or voluntarily to protect oneself against possible lapses of conduct. The object is to control the mind and mould one's conduct along the spiritual path. The rules are such as intended to protect the society from harm by protecting oneself in the righteous path. A vow affords stability to the will and guards its votary from the evils of temptations or of unregulated life; it gives purpose to life and a healthy direction to our thoughts and actions. It helps the growth of self-control and protects against the pitfalls of free life.
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Every individual has some weakness or the other. It is difficult to enumerate them and provide anti-dotes against each of
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