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## **The Sutra Kritanga Sutra**
**Translation:**
**Verse:**
Obtaining liberation does not come from performing morning ablutions. Nor does it come from abstaining from eating bitter salt. Other misguided individuals consume alcohol, meat, and garlic, which is contrary to the path of liberation and Dharma. By doing so, they wander in the cycle of birth and death.
**Commentary:**
Liberation is not attained by performing morning ablutions, as the term "etc." implies that washing hands, feet, etc., is also included. Using water causes harm to aquatic life, and liberation cannot be attained through harming living beings. Water, in itself, is not capable of removing external impurities. Even if it were, how could it remove internal impurities? Internal purity comes from purity of thought. If internal purity could be achieved through water for those without pure thoughts, then even fishermen, who kill fish for a living, would attain liberation by bathing in water. Similarly, liberation is not attained by abstaining from consuming five types of salt. It is illogical to say that liberation is attained by those who abstain from consuming salt. Salt is not the only source of nourishment for the body, as milk, sugar, etc., also provide nourishment.
One should ask these misguided individuals: Is liberation attained by abstaining from salt in a physical sense, or in a mental sense? If it is in a physical sense, then everyone living in a region where salt is not produced should naturally attain liberation. This is not observed, nor is it desirable. If it is in a mental sense, then mental purity is paramount, and there is no need to abstain from salt. These ignorant individuals consume alcohol, meat, garlic, etc., and dwell in the world, wandering without attaining liberation. Their actions and conduct are only fit for worldly existence. They do not follow the path of liberation, which consists of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct. Therefore, they dwell in the world, separate from liberation.
Now, the author of the sutra intends to refute these principles in detail.
**Om Om Om**
**378**