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ELEVEN PRATIMAS
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4) Proşadhopavāsa-pratima
The details of this vow have already been discussed. Fasting should be observed on four days in a month, cominencing on the mid-day previous to the date of fast and ending with the mid-day of the succeeding day of the fast. The entire period has to be spent in prayer, study of scriptures, meditation and hearing of religious discourses:
5) Sacitta-tyāga-pratimā
A kind-hearted house-holder should abstain from eating roots, fruits, vegetables, tubers, green leaves, shoots and seeds which are not cooked. He should not trample upon any growing plant. He should also refrain from serving such food to others. In brief, he should avoid eating any uncooked or insufficiently cooked food-stuffs. According to the Svetāmbara books, this vow is ranked seventh in the list of Pratimās. Unboiled water as well as liquids that contain salts are prohibited. One who has reached this stage is called Sacitta-tyäga Pratimädhäri.
6) Ratribhojana-tyaga-Pratima
An aspirant in this stage does not eat or drink anything at night. He does not take food, water, tiffin or betel-nuts and leaves at night. Āsādhara includes abstinence from sexual intercourse during day; he seems to "cover all inter-course unless during the stu and expressly for the procreation of children.”
According to the Svetā mbaras, the sixth stage refers to abrahma-varjana-pratimā, the layman is prohibited from having not only sexual contact but also from being alone with his wife and engaging in conversation.
7) Brahmacarya-pratima
The house-holder who has reached this stage must not only observe complete celibacy considering at the same time that the sexual act involves activities of ihe impure human body. He
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