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Yoga-drushti-samuccaya
Just as foolish, clinging souls, who, like the tools of religion, which are only instruments for self-realization, miss their goal, and get lost in the false attachment to those tools, in trivial differences of opinion, in petty quarrels, in small enclosures, and consider that to be their duty; such great souls with vast vision do not believe in those. Because they understand well that - the wise men have said that whatever external tools, whatever material-emotional instruments they have shown, they have said it only for the benefit of the soul, not for its harm, but even in that, if the soul holds a sense of possessiveness, creates an obstacle in the form of desire, becomes unconscious, then those tools become the opposite of tools! They become obstacles! The instrument becomes a burden! For example,
Unconsciousness as an obstacle
Temples, upashrayas, etc., have been built for many souls for the ease and convenience of devotion, study, etc., but even in them, if there is competition, rivalry, a sense of "mine" and "yours", if a possessive, clinging mentality is held even towards the impartial, selfless, non-attached Lord, if petty quarrels like who climbed higher are made, and hatred is increased, then the desired purpose is destroyed; the instrument becomes a burden! And the upashraya is also, for a certain time, for the temporary use of a wandering muni, like a bird, with the permission of the householder. But even in that, if a possessive attachment to the territory is made, like this one is given this place and that one is given that place, then even that upashraya becomes an obstacle! The gachchha-gana, too, is originally made for organization and coordination, but even that, if it becomes a place of possessiveness, a dwelling place for pride, a battlefield for anger and quarrels, or a display of narrow-mindedness like an enclosure, then even that becomes a burden! It becomes an obstacle to the soul!
The instrument becomes a burden!
“Many see the divisions of the gachchha, but they are not ashamed to speak of the truth! They are tired of doing their own work, like filling the north; the king of the Kali Yuga is a cruel one....” - Shri Anandghanaji
The scriptures are only meant for reading and understanding by the soul, and for their beneficial use. Instead, if someone claims ownership of them, and hoards them like a miser, and establishes their possessiveness in them, then it becomes an obstacle. Or, if someone uses the scriptures for their own benefit, with pride like "how learned I am", "how well I can lecture", "what a speaker I am", then it becomes an obstacle for the soul. Or, if the scriptures are used for criticism, for debate, or for pointless arguments, then that too...