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continues religious practices faithfully everyday. There are six essentials which a Śrāvaka (householder) is expected to practise everyday in his life. These are enumerated below: 1. Sāmāyika : 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" (Mūlācāra 23). A householder should do at least one Sāmāyika a day for 48 minutes. In this period, he should remain aloof from his domistic and business activities. He should devote his time in self-contemplation, meditation and scriptural study. Caturvinshati stava : Worship of twenty four Tīrthankaras by reciting their Stotras and Bhajans. Tirthankaras are deities free from attachment and aversion and by their worship we try to adhere to atleast some of their virtues in our life. Vandanā : A Śrāvaka should go everyday to the Sãdhus (mendicants) and Sädhvis (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 committed any mistake he should repent for the same so that such mistakes do not recur. Kāyotsarga : 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." (Dhyana - Satak 101). Pratyākhyāna : A Śrāvaka should take some vows everyday to purify his life. The aim of life is to realise the distinction between body and soul. The soul is everlasting but the body is perishable. Through Pratyākhyāna we develop qualities of self
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