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criticism is very difficult. By criticizing his faults without deception this ascetic progresses towards inner purity."
This praise by the acharya inspired other ascetics of the group to praise that ascetic. They thought that if such criticism of faults is all that is required for inner purification there is nothing wrong in committing faults frequently.
Once a true and steadfast ascetic came wandering and joined this group. When he saw such superficial atonement as a regular feature within that group, he could not contain himself. One day he approached the acharya—“Sir ! Praising a crafty ascetic you are acting like the king who praised the fire-worshipper.” And he narreted the story
In the town of Giri lived a merchant who worshipped fire. Every year he would collect yellow-sapphire gems in his house and would set the house to fire one day. The king and the townsfolk started praising this irrational act—“This merchant is great. Every year he pleases the fire-god by generously and devotedly offering heaps of gems."
As it turned out, one day when the merchant set fire to his house strong wind was blowing and the fire spread rapidly. It became impossible to contain it and soon the conflagration consumed the whole town including the palace. When the king thought over the tragedy he cursed himself for his own foolishness. He finally punished and exiled the merchant. As that king caused the destruction of his kingdom by falsely praising the merchant, likewise your praise for this fraudulent ascetic will prove to be detrimental for you and your sect.
However if you punish even a single ascetic for his lax behaviour you will feel relieved like the king and his subjects who dealt punishment to the offender. Illustrating his version, he said
There was a king in whose city also lived a merchant like the fire-worshipper in the said town. He also collected sapphire gems and set them to fire every year. The king got the news of his obsession with such fire-worship. He summoned the merchant अनुयोगद्वार सूत्र
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Illustrated Anuyogadvar Sutra
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