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i. Darśana pratimā.
THE JAINA LAYMAN AND
affection open, and through which suffering might enter our lives, and to abstain from action, lest karma should be acquired with all its penalties.
The twelve vows were shaped in accordance with the fixed idea of all who hold the doctrine of karma that, though it is well to do good, it is better to do nothing; their aim is also to bridge over the gap between the lay and the ascetic life. The eleven Pratimă bring the approach still closer.
iii. Sāmāyika pratimā. iv. Poșadhopavāsa pratimā.
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A layman who is desirous of reaching a higher stage in the upward path, or Ċauda Guṇasthānaka, than that attained by keeping the twelve vows will also keep the eleven Pratima, which lead him gently on towards the point when he will be able to take the five great vows of the ascetic.
By the first, or Darśana pratima, a layman undertakes to worship the true deva (i. e. a Tirthankara), to reverence a true guru, and to believe in the true dharma (i. e. Jainism). He also promises to avoid the seven bad deeds which are mentioned in a well-known Sanskrit śloka that may be translated thus:
'Gambling, eating meat, wine-bibbing, adultery, hunting, thieving, debauchery-these seven things in this world lead to the worst of
hells.'
ii. Vrata
He next promises to keep each of the twelve vows (Vrata); pratima. and when death comes, to receive it in absolute peace, and
that he will perform Santhāro. (This, the perfect death, is called Samadhi Maraṇa.)
He goes on to vow that he will engage in Sāmāyika at least three times every day.
He also vows that he will observe Posadha at least six times a month (i. e. on the two eighth and the two fourteenth days of the moon, and also on the full-moon night and one dark night).
v.Saċitta- Again, with the object of never even taking vegetable parihara life, the layman promises (Sacittaparihāra pratimā) to avoid pratimā. all uncooked vegetables, or cooked vegetables mixed with
