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Renunciation of possessions is essential, possessions are a source of faults.
From the second light of Yoga Shastra, verses 108 to 109: "Possessions are the life of hell" (Tattvartha 6/16). Therefore, one should renounce possessions in the form of delusion and attachment to wealth, grain, etc., and also renounce any excess material possessions as possessions. ||107||
The faults of possessions are generally described. ||164|| Even a speck of dust here, no virtue exists. But faults as large as mountains arise from possessions. ||108|| Meaning: In this possession, there is no virtue even as much as a speck of dust; rather, it gives rise to faults as large as mountains. ||108|| Explanation: Very fine, unstable dust particles are seen coming in through the window of a house along with the rays of the sun. There is no benefit from possessions even as much as those dust particles; nor does any being attain any kind of perfection or success in the next life by virtue of possessions, nor has it ever happened. Possessions are certainly used in consumption or enjoyment, etc., but that is not a virtue, rather, it is the fault of attachment arising from possessions, and the harm of karma-bondage, etc. The virtue of possessions that is described in the scriptures in the form of building Jain temples, shelters, etc., is not that virtue (in the form of karma-destruction), but it is described as the form of the proper use of possessions (in the form of merit from being the cause of the dharma-meditation, enlightenment, etc., of many people). In reality, if one looks, the one who acquires possessions to build Jain temples, etc., does not have the intention of welfare (in the form of karma-destruction). It is better not to desire wealth for the sake of religious work than to desire wealth for the sake of religious work. It is better to avoid touching mud from afar than to put your foot in mud and then wash it later. Because a person who builds a Jain temple with golden steps and thousands of pillars, and with a golden floor, even from that (work in the form of merit-bondage), there is more (fruit in the form of karma-destruction, purification, and dharma) in penance, restraint, or observance of vows. Therefore, it is clearly stated in the "Sambohasattari Vritti" that there is infinite virtue in penance and restraint compared to (worship of wealth). ||108||
The fact that "great faults like mountains arise from possessions" is explained in detail in another way. ||165|| From attachment, even those who are not enemies become enemies, such as anger and hatred. Even a sage's mind becomes unsteady, because of the one whose self is agitated by it. ||109|| Meaning: From attachment to possessions, enemies like anger, hatred, etc., arise which were not there before. Because even the mind of a sage becomes unsteady and deviates from restraint due to the influence of possessions. ||109|| Explanation: From attachment to possessions, those enemies that are opposed to the virtues of the self, such as anger, hatred, etc., which were not present in the state of arising, also manifest. From attachment to possessions, attachment (attachment, delusion, ego, delusion, desire, greed, etc.) arises; hatred (opposition, enmity, hatred, jealousy, strife, fault-finding, etc.) arises towards the one who obstructs or harms it. And from these anger, hatred, etc., arise fear, delusion, lust, etc., bondage, bondage, etc., and the faults of going to hell, etc. The question arises, where and how do those anger, hatred, etc., which do not exist, manifest? In answer to this, it is said - let alone the Shravakas and other householders; even the peaceful mind of a great vow-taker, a sage, becomes agitated by attachment to possessions. This means that the mind of a sage also becomes unstable from the collection of unnecessary things or from being near things. And it becomes afflicted by either the family of anger or the family of hatred. In this way, a sage also becomes corrupt from the attachment to possessions. It is also said - from wealth, there is cutting, piercing (killing), danger, hardship, suffering, fear, bitter fruit, death, corruption of dharma, and mental unrest (disturbance), etc., all sorrows. Therefore, the ancient sages have forbidden the root possession of hundreds of faults. Because wealth is the root of many misfortunes. If one has once vomited (renounced) wealth, why does he do penance and restraint in vain if he desires to take it again? (Up. Mala 50-52) Does possession not lead to killing, bondage, killing, cutting, etc., and to unrighteousness? If the same possession comes into the dharma of a sage, then it will truly become a worldly affair. ||109|| After describing the faults of possessions in general, it is now connected with the basic Shravaka dharma.
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