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Appendix
179
SP
(xi) Proșadhopavāsa (vow to observe fasts on 8th as well as 14th day of
every lunar-calendar-semi-month, i.e., four fasts in a lunar-month). (xii) Vaiyāvratya (vow to devote time and resources in serving the
spiritually advanced persons). (3) Pratimā 3 or stage 3: It is called Sāmāyika Pratimā.
Vow to have regular periods of contemplation and silence three times, morning-noon-evening, everyday. (4) Pratimā 4 or stage 4: It is called Proșadha Pratimā.
Vow to observe fasts on gth and 14th day of every lunar-calendar-semimonth, i.e., four fasts in a lunar-month; and to devote such days of fasting towards spiritual objectives. (5) Pratimā 5 or stage 5: It is called Sacitta Tyāga Pratimā.
Not to eat or drink any food which has life in any form. It may be noted that even a green vegetable in its raw form has life and fresh tap water also has life. The boiled water, freshly prepared juice, steamed or boiled small pieces of permissible vegetables and fruits, grains, pulses, etc. are permissible. It may be added that honey and various root vegetables, etc. are not permissible even at first stage.
(6) Pratimā 6 or stage 6: It is called Rātri-Bhukti-Tyāga Pratimā.
Not to eat any food including water in night hours. Even medicine is not taken in the night. Persons at this stage do not even cook in the night. To be more rigorous, a person at this stage does not apply any ointment or oil or medicine on one's body in the night.
(7) Pratimā 7 or stage 7: It is called Brahmacarya Pratimā.
Vow of adopting sexual abstinence. (8) Pratimā 8 or stage 8: It is called Ārambha-Tyāga Pratimā.
Not to indulge in any worldly task such as service, agriculture, business, etc. (9) Pratimā 9 or stage 9: It is called Parigraha-Tyāga Pratimā.
At this stage, one keeps only the minimum essentials such as limited number of clothes, bed, books, etc., and relinquishes all his/her worldly possessions such as house, ornaments, cash, credit or debit cards, or bank deposits, etc. (It is assumed that he is not having a burden of loan on him/her.) (10) Pratimā 10 or stage 10: It is called Anumati-Tyāga Pratimā.
At this stage, the person may live in the family but relinquishes all controls over other members. Even he/she does not keep in his control any approval or permission to any one regarding any worldly task.
