The Perfect Law

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The remaining four are the following Disciplinary Vows Sanskrit: Shiksha Vratas or disciplinary vows; so called because they are preparatory to the discipline of an ascetic’s life:—

Equanimity Sanskrit: Sāmāyika:—Taking a vow to devote a fixed period every day, once, twice, or three times, at sunrise, sunset and noon to the contemplation of the self for spiritual advancement.

Periodic Fasting Sanskrit: Proshadhopvâsa. Taking a vow to fast on four days of the month, i. e., the two eighth days Sanskrit: Ashtamis; the eighth day of both the waxing and waning lunar fortnights and the two fourteenth days Sanskrit: Chaturdashis.

Limiting Consumption Sanskrit: Bhogopobhoga Parimana. Taking a vow every day to limit one’s enjoyment of consumable and non-consumable things This refers to things used once, like food (bhoga), and things used repeatedly, like clothing or jewelry (upabhoga).

Sharing with Guests Sanskrit: Atithi-Samvibhaga. Taking a vow to take one’s food only after feeding ascetics or others, with a part of it.

The following eleven stages of spiritual progress have been laid down for a layman.

1. Stage of Insight Sanskrit: Darshana Pratimâ. A layman who entertains right belief, and follows the five main vows to a limited extent is classed in this stage.
2. Stage of Vows Sanskrit: Vrata-Pratimâ. In this stage he observes the five main vows to a limited extent (minor vows Sanskrit: anuvratas), without transgression and follows the seven supplementary vows.
3. Stage of Meditation Sanskrit: Sāmāyika Pratimâ. In this stage he practises faultless contemplation regularly, three times, in the morning, at midday and in the evening, at least for about 48 minutes every time.
4. Stage of Fasting Sanskrit: Proshadhopavâsa Pratimâ. In this stage, he observes a fast faultlessly, on the 8th and 14th days of the fortnight.
5. Stage of Renouncing Animate Food Sanskrit: Sachitta Tyâga Pratimâ. In this stage he does not take animate water and vegetable, etc. "Animate" refers to living matter, such as raw water or uncooked plants that still possess the potential for life.
6. Stage of Renouncing Night-Eating Sanskrit: Ratri-Bhukta Tyaga Pratimâ. He does not take or give food or drink at night.
7. Stage of Celibacy Sanskrit: Brahmacharya Pratimâ. He gives up sexual intercourse even with his wife.
8. Stage of Renouncing Occupations Sanskrit: Arambha Tyâga Pratimâ. He gives up all profession and all means of earning money and all worldly occupations.
9. Stage of Renouncing Possessions Sanskrit: Parigraha-Tyâga Pratimâ. He gives up all desire for objects of the world and abandons all property except a very few limited number of clothes and utensils.