Purusharthsiddhyupay English

SR No.: 001105
Original Sutra Author: Amrutchandracharya
Author: Ajit Prasad
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1933
Total Pages: 160
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English, Ethics, & Principle
File Size: 11 MB

Page 47

( 34 ) is of considerable help in spiritual advancement towards the higher discipline of a saint. The six duties are, the worship of the perfect ones, the Arhats; attendance upon spiritual leaders; study of the sacred Scriptures; meditation once, twice or three times a day; in a calm quiet place; temperance in eating drinking, bodily covering, and daily engagements, and charity. Charity according to Jaina teachings comprises giving food and medicine to those who need them, imparting knowledge to the ignorant, and affording protection to all living beings.
This treatise treats of Ahimsa in all its varying aspects. It proves to demonstration that all evil thoughts, all evil acts, every immorality, and every sin and crime is covered by the term Himsa. Even where no harm is caused to another by such thought, intention, word or act, the purity of the soul of the persons who entertain such thought, utter such word, or commit such act is certainly injured, and that in itself is Himsa, and as such must be avoided, just like the crime of suicide. Causing harm to another, may possibly be justified or extenuated in particular circumstances, but voluntarily causing injury to the self has no justification or extenuation.
The book lays down a clear method, a royal roud, a prac. tical path. The path is simple, easy, straight, and not winding, mazy, steep, narrow or strait. It would be a pleasure to follow it. A person who has not taken to a course of phy. sical exercise, is staggered at the mention of a Sandow's performances and feels sceptic on hearing what a Ram Murti can achieve. He would not believe unless he saw, that a fourcylinder car, in full action, can be stopped from moving by the unaided physical resistance of a mere man. It is difficult to fix limits to the development of bodily strength, and the expansion of spiritual Power is only limited by space and substance. The process of expansion may seem difficult, arduous, hard, impracticable to one from a distance, but when one has entered upon the practice of discipline, there is for him an ever.increasing joy in the consciousness of everincreasing power, and knowledge, and every effort makes the succeeding attempt more pleasant and joyful.