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of thinking, recalling and imagining.
If one becomes free from thinking, recalling and planning, then the doubts may be raised: Would this not amount to withdrawal from the worldly affairs? Would not a sādhaka neglect his duties and responsibilities? How then would he survive and maintain himself and his family? How would he succeed in life? What about the stark realities of life? How would he procure necessities such as food, shelter, clothes etc., if he engages himself in meditation and selfrealization? Would withdrawal from worldly duties and responsibilities not create hardships? Would not the practice of meditation make a person unsocial? Would not the complex problems of everyday life become formidable ? All such doubts are quite reasonable and are likely to disturb one's mind.
Virtuous and Decent Behaviour
To dispel the above doubts, it can be emphatically stated that no practitioner of meditation has ever caused disruption of family or social life. On the contrary, such disruptions were made by those who never practised meditation in their life. The apprehension that regular practice of meditation will result in disorganisation of social life is baseless. If at all, a practitioner would think it fit to withdraw from some worldy matter, it would be such an affair as is superfluous or unessential. The fact is that only the egotists, who have never practised meditation, have created complications, problems and difficulties in the world. Experience has shown that so far, no sādhaka of prekṣā meditation has ever broken a code of good conduct, or disrupted or repudiated family or social obligations. Such an apprehensión is groundless. Such a fear has no basis whatsoever.
The test of a practitioner of meditation in social life is his conduct and character. If one practises meditation regu
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