Atmatatva Vichar Or Philosophy Of Soul

SR No.: 023322
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vijaylakshmansuri, Ghanshyam Joshi, Kirtivijay Gani
Publisher: Mohanlal D Mehta
Publication Year: 1963
Total Pages: 568
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 39 MB

Page 430

PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
407
Some say all things in the world are meant for enjoyment so it is our duty to relish various kinds of enjoyments. Some say that the gods are pleased by consuming liquor, meat and fish and by resorting to sexual enjoyment. It is our duty therefore, to resort to these objects of pleasure. Some hold that Gods are pacified with the animal or human sacrifice and thus it is the duty of everyone to offer a human being or an animal in sacrifice. Some hold : "It is our duty to enrich the poor by impoverishing the rich. Equality cannot be established unless we resort to such means".
It is the duty of a cultivator to till the land, of a tradesman to trade, of a tailor to stitch clothes, of shoemaker to prepare shoes, of a potter to make pots, of a carpenter to erect a shed, of a blacksmith to forge iron tools, of a tanner to carry away the carcass of an animal, of a sweeper to sweep, of a thief to steal, of a prostitute to cohabit with number of men and of a slaughterer to slaughter animals. These are indeed their duties. Now if we consider that these duties comprise religion then the very idea of sin evaporates from this world. Can the various acts performed as duties by a servant serving under the contract of employment least minding for the nature of service (for example a teacher teaching for six hours as agreed upon, a clerk preparing accounts for six hours would go to collect the dues or to carry out some work as instructed by the employer-a labourer would toil for six hours a watchman would watch for six hours, he would follow up an absconding thief or would hammer the scoundrels—an artisan would carry out his designs for six hours; serving as a slaughterer one has to slay animals and as a liquor vendor one has to serve liquor to the people) be considered as the acts of religion ?
By construing religion as morality also we cannot grasp the real nature of religion as the standards of morality vary from time to time and place to place. Such standards of morality which are current, comprise of good and evil elcinents. Many authors of the texts on moral philosophy have enumerated peaceful, pecuniary, punitive and dividing measures as moral. Here peaceful measures convey good advice which is a wholesome element. If anyone refrains from any wicked, unjust and unfair action by peaceful advice then certainly it is desirable. But pecuniary measures imply all illegal gratifications like bribe etc. for getting the selfish motive realised. Such measures indeed are not desirable. In the