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Ans. Sanskar, the past action, is the greatest cause of
- the continuance of evil tendencies. Long indulgence, combined with sanskar, further strengthens an evil tendency. Because of this powerful combine of sanskar and indulgence, a man's mind is disposed towards violence. When the sanskars get ripened, they manifest themselves. Here, instrumental causes are very active. Violence does not manifest itself through one's action alone; because of the conditioning factors, one's mentality becomes violent. Wherever in space and time, the stimuli become strong, violence erupts. In case of fewer stimulants, the consequences of action are proportionately fewer. In the Yogic Age, the incitements to violence, untruth, etc. were few. In consequence, man's inclinations too, were not so wicked. In the present circumstances, there prevails from morning till evening, an atmosphere of violence. The newspapers provide an abundant fare of thefts, dacoities, bloody encounters and rapes. People read about or witness around them similar incidents. These are the outer causes. The inner causes such as the food for the body, the chemical fluids, etc. are also affected by the rampant evil. It is only when a sadhak makes an effort to free himself from evil influences flowing from within and without that he can succeed in sublimating his innate tendencies.
Q. Is the groundwork for meditation well laid by ob- serving a mahavrat or anuvrat, or is something else required in addition to it?
Ans. Mahavrat (taking a great vow) is an excellent
- thing. A sadhak who has taken a great vow, faces no external obstacle to his progress in the field of meditation. As regards an anuvrati sadhak, the first requirement is freedom from addiction. Nowadays, some people accept the use of intoxicants in the context of meditation,
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