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The Path of Three Jewels
dangers of deviating from right path by their association.1 He should not recognise violence as right under any fear of greed. He should avoid pseudo-guru, pseudo-deva, pseudoscripture pseudo-conduct and common false conceptions.3
5. Upabrhana (Augumenting the spiritual qualites). The right believer should perpetually endeavour to increase his spiritual qualities. Another name for this characteristic is Upaguhana, consisting in concealing one's own merit and
demerits of others.5
6. Sthirikarana (Re-establishing those who deviate from truth). Any time any one may be tempted by passions to follow the wrong path. It is the duty of the aspirant to reestablish himself and others also on the right path by remin ding him of its glory.
7. Vatsalya (Sense of brotherhoods towards the followers of the right path). It includes respect for spiritual principles and for those who follow them." One must be devoted to meritorious persons, show respect to them and speak nobly.
8. Prabhāvanā (preaching the importance of truth). One should try to propagate the truth to others also by means of charity, austerity, devotion, profound learning and by such means as are suited to the time and place.9
It would be observed here that the first five characteristics pertain to the individual life of the aspirant whereas the last three pertain to the social aspect of religion. A true aspirant is not satisfied with his progress only but tries his best to help others also in self-realisation.
1. माध्यस्थ्यभावं विपरीतवृत्तौ ।
-Sāmāyikapāṭha, Delhi, 166, 1.
2. Kartikeyanuprekṣā, 418. 3. Puruşarthasiddhupaya, 26. 4. Ibid., 27.
5.
87
Ibid., 27.
Also Kartikeyanuprekṣā, 419. 6. Ibid.. 28.
7. Puruşarthsiddhyupaya, 29.
8. Ibid., 421.
9. Ibid., 30.
Also Ratnakaranḍaśrāvakācāra, 18; Kartikeyanuprekṣā, 422.
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