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To accept right belief after having given up the wrong one. to achieve self-restraint after having shunned non-restraint, to become spiritually Vigilant after having abandoned lethargy. to cultivate good qualities like perseverance after having renounced passions and to attain
the true nature of soul after having given up worldly activities is
Pratikraman
followed by monks and nuns who have totally renounced worldly life. Jainism defines that every one should strive to adopt these vows according to one's individual capacity and circumstances. The ultimate goal is to accept them as full vows.
During the Pratikraman, a lay person reflects on these vows. One would repent and ask for forgiveness for one's past minor transgressions that may have occurred knowingly or unknowingly. One would contemplate on each of these vows so that one would be more aware of such circumstances and would avoid such transgressions in the future.
This is accomplished through the recitation of Ascetics Forgiveness Sutra (Abbhuthio Sutra), Atonement of Eighteen Sins (18 Päpsthänak), and Vandittu Sutra reflecting on Transgression of the twelve vows of the laypeople.
One should also know that to effectively guard against sinful activities, one should abandon wrong belief (Mithyätva), non-restraint (Avirati), unawareness or lethargy (Pramäda), passions (Kashaya) and inauspicious activity (Aprashasta Yoga). To accept right belief after having given up the wrong one, to achieve self-restraint after having shunned non-restraint, to become spiritually vigilant after having abandoned lethargy, to cultivate good qualities like perseverance after having renounced passions and to attain the true nature of soul after having given up worldly activities is Pratikraman.
If one performs the Pratikraman ritual only physically and verbally to confess the past sinful acts and makes an open declaration not to commit them in future, but in real life one continues to commit sinful activities without any hesitation, then this type of recitation of ritual is called Dravya or external Pratikraman. Such Dravya Pratikraman is not useful; on the contrary is harmful. It deceives one's own self and is meant simply to deceive others.
If after the performance of Pratikraman ritual, one minimizes or eliminates the sinful activities in real life then the Pratikraman is called Bhäva or internal Pratikraman, which is very useful for the purification of the soul.
5. Käyotsarga - Non-attachment to the Body
Käyä means body and Utsarga means moving away or rising above. Therefore, Käyotsarga means rising above the bodily activities to focus on the inner self and thus, develop non-attachment (Kayotsarga) towards our body. To perform Käyotsarga in its true definite form one should also give up all the defilements from one's life.
One needs to renounce attachment to one's body to attain proper concentration, which is required for virtuous meditation (Dharma Dhyana) and pure meditation (Shukla Dhyana). During Pratikraman ritual, this is accomplished during meditation after repentance and confession of sins. Also the Pratikraman is performed while sitting or standing in the meditating position, practicing Käyotsarga throughout the ritual.
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