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their day to day activities. The main ethico-spiritual values of Jainism are practicing strenuous effort based on detachment (Vitaragata or Anasakti), meditation and contemplations, vegetarian diet food, fasting, conservation and sharing their bounties with others. In spite of these, most of their lifestyle activities are predominantly similar to the Indian social customsculture prevalent in the region/state of India they live in. It is not necessary to be born in a Jain family to practice Jain way of life.
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Spiritual path of progress of a Jain householders are categorized in eleven stages (called pratimas) that indicates progressive adherence to the regime of rules and vows. These stage represent his progress from a basis-intermediate to a serious votary and finally to become a monk (homeless and without worldly possessions). Jain householders, called votaries, are clubbed in three categories accordingly:
Beginner: Consumption of non violent food primarily (like abstinence from consumption of meat, and foods infested heavily with bacteria), use pure water for drinking and cooking, avoids eating after sunset, and observance of seven abstinences (vices namely sexual intercourse with other than one's own wife, gambling, consuming intoxicants like alcohol, hunting, harshness in speech, harsh punishments and misappropriation of other's property).
Intermediate: Observe six daily essential duties that are: worship the true deity, obeisance to holy teachers, studying the scriptures, self-control/restraint, penance and charity."1 They exercise greater self restraint and caution and start observing the five minor vows which constitute the part of institution of five minor
VOWS.
Pg.150 Gandhi & Jainism
