The Anuvrat Movement: Theory and Practice: Views of the Anuvrat Movement @ HereNow4U

One survey question asked, "Is the Anuvrat Movement: 1. a religious movement, 2. a spiritual movement, 3. an ethical movement, 4. a spiritual and ethical movement, 5. all three (religious, spiritual and ethical)?" The reason why I asked this question was to compare the views of my respondents to what I understood were Tulsi's objectives in the creation of the movement. If the movement was truly secular as he intended, then the majority of respondents should have chosen "ethical" or "spiritual and ethical." My data show that a large majority of respondents, Jain, Hindu and Muslim, did think of the movement as "religious" to some degree, whether they chose "a religious movement" or the category of "spiritual, ethical and religious." Such a result was despite Tulsi's clear aims for the movement.

Table 1. "What Is the Anuvrat Movement?"

Religious

Ethical

Spiritual

Ethical
&
Spiritual

Religious,
Spiritual
&
Ethical

Total

Jain

4
2.8%

12
8.3%

17
11.7%

15
10.3%

97
66.9%

145
100.0%

Hindu

2
5.7%

4
11.4%

5
14.3%

0
0.0%

24
68.6%

35
100.0%

Sikh

0
0.0%

0
0.0%

1
100.0%

0
0.0%

0
0.0%

1
100.0%

Muslim

0
0.0%

0
0.0%

1
16.7%

1
16.7%

4
66.7%

6
100.0%

Total

6
3.2%

16
8.6%

24
12.8%

16
8.6%

125
66.8%

187
100.0%

In connection with the previous question, I also examined the survey results on the question,

"In your opinion, is the Anuvrat Movement:

1. primarily aimed at Jains,
2. intended principally for Jains but open for all,
3. intended for persons of all beliefs,
4. not sure?"

A majority of the responses for this question differ in their opinion in comparison to the previous question. The majority here agrees with Tulsi that The Anuvrat Movement is intended for all. Only 6.2% thought it was only for Jains, but these were equally Anuvrati and non-Anuvrati. The table below depicts the figures from the survey data.

Table 2. "Who is the Anuvrat Movement Intended for?"

Aimed at Jains

Intended for Jains
but
Open
for All

Intended
for Persons of
All Beliefs

Not
Sure

Missing

Total

Anuvrati

7
6.2%

39
34.8%

61
54.5%

3
2.7%

2
1.8%

112
100%

Non-Anuvrati

4
6.2%

26
40.6%

31
48.4%

3
4.7%

0
0.0%

64
100%

Total

11
6.2%

65
36.9%

92
52.3%

6
3.4%

2
1.1%

176
100%

	Religious	Ethical	Spiritual	Ethical & Spiritual	Religious, Spiritual & Ethical	Total
Jain	4 2.8%	12 8.3%	17 11.7%	15 10.3%	97 66.9%	145 100.0%
Hindu	2 5.7%	4 11.4%	5 14.3%	0 0.0%	24 68.6%	35 100.0%
Sikh	0 0.0%	0 0.0%	1 100.0%	0 0.0%	0 0.0%	1 100.0%
Muslim	0 0.0%	0 0.0%	1 16.7%	1 16.7%	4 66.7%	6 100.0%
Total	6 3.2%	16 8.6%	24 12.8%	16 8.6%	125 66.8%	187 100.0%

	Aimed at Jains	Intended for Jains but Open for All	Intended for Persons of All Beliefs	Not Sure	Missing	Total
Anuvrati	7 6.2%	39 34.8%	61 54.5%	3 2.7%	2 1.8%	112 100%
Non-Anuvrati	4 6.2%	26 40.6%	31 48.4%	3 4.7%	0 0.0%	64 100%
Total	11 6.2%	65 36.9%	92 52.3%	6 3.4%	2 1.1%	176 100%