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sinful karma, and karmic separation (Nirjarā). 5. He believes that sinful activities result in hellish miseries
and the pious ones in heavenly pleasures, 6. 'He believes in the existence of the Lords Arhantas as well
as that of other extra-ordinary personalities such as
Cakravarti, Baldeva, Vasudeva, etc and venerates them. 7. He believes in the existence of all that exists and in the
absence of all that does not. The Reverent Householder -
A faithful householder must show reverence towards the objects of veneration like the Lords Jina as well as the venerable ordained ascetics of the order. They can show this veneration in three ways -
1. Physically -- by bowing to them with folded hands, 2. Verbally - by verbally acknowledging their sermons or
teachings, 3. Mentally - by having a feeling of praise, deference,
reverence and admiration and by holding them in great esteem.
The Householders' Vows And Their Excesses -
The householders' conduct is guided by certain prescribed vows and their supporting rules and regulations. These vows fall in three categories – Five basic minor vows (Anuvrata), three qualitative vows (Gunavrata) and Four educational vows (Siksā -vrata). These are further supplemented by eleven advanced practices known as Srāvaka Pratimā. Also, there are certain activities that go to compromise these vows. The vows can be compromised in four stages – thinking or intending to flaw the vow (Atikrama), preparing to flaw the vow (Vyatikrama), collecting material to translate the intent into action (Aticāra) and compromising the vow by acting as per intention (Anācāra). The excesses of the vows fall in the third category (Aticāra). 252 : JAINISM: THE CREED FOR ALL TIMES