Jain Journal 2001 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 11

102
JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXV, No. 3 January 2001
and aversion are the root causes of karma and karma originates from infatuation. Karma is the root cause of birth and death and these (birth and death) are said to be the source of misery." (Utta. Sū 32.7). He further adds, "None can escape the effect of their own past karmas. (Utta. Su 4.3)
Religion in Day to Day Activities
A householder should lead his life in such a way that he continues religious practices faithfully everyday. There are six essentials which a Srāvaka (householder) is expected to practise everyday in his life. These are enumerated below:
1. Samāyika: It is defined as follows: "sāmāyika is to be devoid
of attachment and aversion and to be indifferent to life and death, gain and loss, fortune and misfortune, friend and foe, joy and sorrow” (Mulācāra 23). A householder should do at least one camāyika a day for 48 minutes. In this period, he should remain aloof from his domestic and business activities, He should devote his time in self-contemplation, meditation and scriptural study.
2. Caturvimšati stava : Worship of twenty four Tirthankaras by
reciting their stotras and bhujans. Tirthankaras are deities free from attachment and aversion and by their worship we try to adhere to at least some of their virtues in our life.
3. Vandanā : A srāvaka should go everyday to the sādhus
(mendicants) and sadhvis (nuns) and offer his reverential salutation. Association with such holy people results in development of virtues in life.
Pratikramana : In this, self-contemplation and introspection should be done in the morning and in the evening. He should check up whether he is developing good qualities. If he has made any mistake he should repent for the same so that such mistakes do not recur.
5. Kayotsarga : This literary means abandonment of body. It is
done in a standing or sitting posture of meditation. This helps in keeping the mind under control. It is said, "Just as fire fanned by powerful winds destroys heaps of firewood in no time, so also the fire of meditation destroys heaps of karmas in no time" (Dhyāna-Sataka 101).