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The Jaina Way of Life 31
2. Caturviṁśatistava: Worship of twenty-four Tīrthankaras by reciting their stotras and bhajans. Tīrthankaras are the deities free from attachment and aversion and by their worship we try to adhere to at least some of their virtues in our life.
3. Vandana: A Śrāvaka should go everyday to the Sadhus (mendicants) and Sadhvis (nuns) and offer his reverential salutation. Association with such holy people results in development of virtues in life.
4. Pratikramaņa: 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.
5. Kayotsarga: 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.""
6. Pratyakhyāna: 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 Pratyakhyāna we develop qualities of self and abandon the negative traits, which hamper our spiritual progress.
Jaina Art of Living
Jainism is a living religion. There are numerous monks and nuns and nearly ten million laities continuing the tradition, following virtually the same path prescribed by Jinas. Though the
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