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Niyamsara
197 6. Dâna or Charity. Giving of (a) food, (6) knowledge, (c) medicine, or (d) protection.
The following eleven stages of spiritual progress have been laid down for a layman.
1. Darśana Pratimâ. A layman who entertains right belief, and follows the five main vows to a limited extent is classed in this stage.
2. Vrata-Pratimâ. In this stage he observes the five main vows to a limited extent (anuvratas), without transgression and follows the seven supplementary vows.
3. Sâmâyika Pratimâ. In this stage he practises faultless contemplation regularly, three times, in the morning, at midday and in the evening, at least for about 48 minutes every time.
4. Prośadhopavasa Pratimâ. In this stage, he observes a fast faultlessly, on the 8th and 14th days of the fortnight.
5. Sachitta Tyâga. In this stage he does not take animate water and vegetable, etc.
6. Ratri-Bhukta Tyâga Pratimâ. He does not take or give food or drink at night.
7. Brahmacharya Pratimâ. He gives up sexual intercourse even with his
wife.
8. Arambha Tyâga Pratimâ. He gives up all profession and all means of earning money and all wordly occupations.
9. Parigraha-Tyâga Pratimâ. He gives up all desire for objects of the world and abandons all property except a very few limited number of clothes and utensils.
10. Anumati-Tyâga Pratima. He would not even offer advice on any worldly matter.
11. Uddişta-Tyaga Pratimâ. In this stage he would not accept food which is prepared particularly for him. He will only accept food which is respectfully offered by a house-holder at the time when he goes out for food. One following the discipline of this stage may be
(a) Kșullaka, who keeps a small sheet of cloth not sufficiently long to cover his whole body and a small loin cloth (langoti), and dines in a dish, or
(6) Ailaka who wears only a small loin-cloth (langoti) and dines off his hands.
They both carry a bowl of water for cleaning the body and peacockfeathers brush for harmlessly removing insects.
As soon as an Ailaka is able to subdue his passions and regards himself as above passion and emotion, he discards like an infant that small langoti also and becomes a nirgrantha, a naked saint, without any possession whatsoever, except the peacock feathers brush for carefully removing insects, and the bowl for carrying water, for cleaning, but not bathing the body. He may keep scriptures as well for daily study.
A saint while observing the five great vows fully and without any transgression, has to observe the following eight rules of conduct also :
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