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Istopadeśa – The Golden Discourse
आरम्भे तापकान् प्राप्तावतृप्तिप्रतिपादकान् । BR Hotel 5114 1417 Galei to: Had meit: 11
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Which wise man would relish sense-gratifying objects, consumable and non-consumable, that cause unease in acquisition, insatiateness on enjoyment, and despair on separation, with unbridled infatuation?
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Human effort in the field of science and technology, particularly over the last one hundred years, has largely been concentrated on providing mankind with advanced gadgets for physical well-being, comfort, and entertainment. Most mundane activities can now be performed at incredibly faster speeds than before, giving us much more free time. Innovative ways to please our senses have been discovered. Finest objects of indulgence, including clothing, cuisine, resorts, cars, smartphones, internet, and cinema, are on hand to divert our minds away from boredom. And all these objects are getting obsolete at an amazing pace.
The acquisition of such objects of indulgence becomes the driving force in our lives. We spend an awful amount of time and energy to acquire these, indulge for a while, but soon get disenchanted and yearn for something superior. We progressively move from a compact car to a luxury car, from a bed-a-night resort to a five-star hotel, from a shantytown to a large city, from a neighbourhood grocery store to a shopping mall, and from a humble man to a self-aggrandizer. We make extraordinary effort to
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