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MANAV DHARMA / 79 others. For this the capacity of listening peacefully is needed, or required. Man speaks what comes to his mind and others hear it only because they have ears to hear. If one's talk or saying is not conducive, it can be rejected and may be passed out from one ear to the other ear. But if his talk, his preaching, is conducive, then that should be kept in mind, Here lies only the humanity of a human being. Only such a thoughtful man can attain some concrete instructions through the preachings of learned wise people and while adopting them practically in his own life, he can march forward on the righteous path or path of spiritualism. Now that path of spiritual upliftment has eleven stages / classes where the thoughtful man subsequently follows them, rising by degrees. Their names are listed below. :
These stages are called Pratimas in Scriptures.
(1) Darshan Pratima (2) Vrat Pratima, (3) Samayika Pratima (4) Prosodhopavasa (5) Abstaining of green vegetables directly (with living matter) (6) Ratri Bhukti Tyag (Abstaining from taking of meals in night (7) Celibacy (8) Aarambh Tyag (Renunciation of professions and occupations) (9) Parigraha Tyag (to discard all External belongings or attachments) (10) Anumati Tyag (11) Udhistha Ahar tyag. The shravak, (Follower of Jainism) subsequently rising to higher degrees is expected to follow the conduct of lower degrees also.
Just as a student, while studying from lower degree, goes upto the studies of shastri degree, then he must possess the knowledge of visharad, without which he can not pass the examination of Shastri Degree. In the same way a Shrawak, who has adopted the third Samayika Pratima, must follow up the conduct laid down for the first and second pratimas and the follower of fourth - Prosodhopavasa Pratima must follow the first three preceding to it. The conduct of every pratima-every stage - is to be strictly followed without any looseness in preceding pratimas and its actual and strict followup. Any defect or short coming in the conduct of any pratima will not help the votary to rise up to that pratima. For example if a votary intends to follow the 7th pratima but there is some looseness or short coming in the actual conduct, then he will not be called the follower of seventh pratima but he is entitled upto the sixth pratima.
Now the writer is defining in detail the conduct to be practised in every pratima. Let us see what a votary is expected to perform in the first Darshan pratima.
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