Answer

Poishad or Poshad is a Jain spiritual practice in which a shravak or shravika temporarily lives like a sadhu or sadhvi for a fixed period, usually for one day or part of a day.

It is observed with:

• Renunciation of worldly activities
• Celibacy
• Simple living
• Pratikraman, Samayik, Swadhyay, meditation, and prayer
• Carefulness in movement, speech, food, and thoughts

How to Do Poshad

• 1. Take permission and guidance
  Traditionally, Poshad should be done under the guidance of a guru, sadhu-sadhvi, or knowledgeable Jain elder, especially if you are doing it for the first time.
• 2. Choose the day
  Poshad is often observed on spiritually important days such as:
  • Ashtami
  • Chaturdashi
  • Poonam
  • Amavasya
  • Paryushan or Ayambil Oli days
• 3. Take the Poshad vow
  One formally accepts the vow to live with restraint for the chosen duration. The exact ritual wording may differ by Jain tradition, so it should be learned from your sampraday or guru.
• 4. Wear simple clean clothes
  Wear plain, clean, modest clothes. Avoid ornaments, cosmetics, perfumes, and unnecessary decoration.
• 5. Stay in a clean and peaceful place
  Remain in a place suitable for dharma activities, such as a derasar, upashray, or a quiet clean room at home.
• 6. Avoid household and business activities
  During Poshad, avoid cooking, business, entertainment, phone use, unnecessary talking, travel, shopping, and family responsibilities as much as possible.
• 7. Practice dharma throughout the day
  Spend the time in:
  • Samayik
  • Pratikraman
  • Kayotsarg
  • Navkar Mantra
  • Stavan and stuti
  • Scriptural study
  • Meditation on the soul
  • Reflection on forgiveness and non-violence
• 8. Observe food restraint
  Many people do fasting, ekasana, biyasana, ayambil, or other forms of restraint during Poshad. The exact rule depends on one’s capacity and the vow taken.
• 9. Maintain celibacy and mental purity
  Poshad includes complete restraint of sensual pleasures, including sexual thoughts and actions.
• 10. Sleep simply
  Traditionally, one avoids luxurious beds and comfort. The idea is to reduce attachment to the body.
• 11. Complete the Poshad properly
  At the end, complete the vow according to your tradition, usually with prayer, pratikraman, and inner reflection.

Spiritual Understanding

Poshad helps a householder experience, for a short time, the disciplined life of renunciation. It reduces attachment, passions, laziness, indulgence, and worldly involvement.

The aim is not merely to fast or sit quietly, but to purify the soul through:

• Ahimsa
• Samyam
• Tyag
• Awareness
• Detachment

Takeaway

Do Poshad with proper guidance, humility, simplicity, and devotion. The outer rules are important, but the inner feeling should be:

“For this period, I want to live with purity, restraint, and awareness of my soul.”