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and eleven advanced practices of the householders (Śrāvaka Pratima) while some only accept and observe one or more of them. This stage can last from a minimum duration of less than 48 minutes to a maximum of somewhat less than a Pūrvakoti Varsa.
6. Negligent Restraint Stage (Pramatta Samyatta Gunasthāna)
This is the sixth spiritual stage, attainable by a soul on the ascendant as well as on the descendant. At this stage even the conduct deluding karma in the form of complete renunciation obscuring passions are either destroyed or subdued. As a result the soul shuns violence and accepts monastic ordination and leads an ascetic life of five great vows etc. However, the soul is still under the influence of the gleaming passions (Sañjvalana Kaṣāya) and therefore, given to negligence in observance of monastic vows that it has accepted. In this virtue-station there is every possibility of the subject falling prey to such negligence as sleep, gossip, sense-enjoyments, passions, etc. The maximum and minimum durations of this Gunasthana are also the same as those of the fifth one.
7. Vigilant Restraint Stage (Apramatta samyatta Guṇasthāna)
This is the seventh spiritual stage, attainable by a soul on the ascendant as well as on the descendant. The souls at this virtue-station do not exhibit any negligence and remain fully vigilant in the pursuit of their monastic vows. Unlike their counterparts at the last virtue-station, they do not fall prey to the negligence inducing practices like sleep, gossip, sensory indulgence and passions. At this stage the subjects are free from all forms of negligence and ever engaged in pious contemplation (Dharma Dhyāna). This is also the stage where the soul applies the first of the three soul purifying processes mentioned in the
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