Way of Life Part 1

SR No.: 006513
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 432
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Religion
File Size: 22 MB

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THE WAY OF LIFE
says what kind of mind can be religious or can embody dharma. A pure mind! You should discard such impurities as attachments, hatred and infatuation. The mind becomes pure and fully developed only when attachments, hatred and infatuation are cast away from it. Dharma is the other name of a pure and perfect mind. There is no need for searching for dharma, in the external world. You search for dharma within yourself. A great poet, William Blake says, "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you". Hence, I exhort you to look into yourselves. You can see a thing where it exists and you cannot see it if you search for it elsewhere.
A THING IS DISCERNIBLE WHERE IT EXISTS
On a certain night, an old woman was searching for something on a road in the light of the street lamp. Some three or four boys were passing by. They felt sympathy for the woman. They asked the old woman, "What have you lost? What are you searching for?"
"I have lost my needle and I am searching for it", the old woman replied. The boys also began to search for the needle in that place. After searching the area thoroughly, when they did not find the needle, they asked the old woman, "Mother please tell us; where did you drop your needle ?" The old woman replied, "Of course, the needle fell down in my house but there is no light in my house. Here, there is the elctric light. So I am searching for it here". The boys laughed uproariously holding their sides and went away from there. Even if you search for thousands of years, you cannot find a thing in a place where it is not present. You can find it only when you search for it in the place where it is present. Where do you search for dharma ? Dharma is not outside yourself, it is within you. Chasten and purify your impure mind. The purity of mind is dharma. Cast away from your heart and mind such impurities as attachments, hatred and infatuation. Discard such evil qualities as enmity, jealousy, unkindness and contempt for others.