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THE JAINA GAZETTE.
much as lies in your power. Your attitude in matters religions should be characterised by toleration and sympathy, but without compromising the truth itself.
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So much for the reforming of others. As for the clash of ideals with reference to one's own self, you will notice that all kinds of ideals fall under the following four categories:
1. Dharma, (religion or merit),
2. Artha, (wealth and affluence),
3. Kama, (pleasure), and
4. Moksha, (salvation).
Now, the rule with regard to these four kinds of ideals is that the first three are meant for the house-holder and the fourth exclusively for the Sadhu who has completely withdrawn himself from the world. This rule at once furnishes an easy solution of all those grave difficulties of life which arise in connection with the putting into practice of such religious injunctions as offering the other cheek, the selling off and giving away of everything to charity, and the like.
There are not many who can make these commandments their mottoes in daily life, and it has always been a difficult question with the non-Jainas as to what might be the cash-value of such injunctions when practically no body can live up to them. The fact is that they are only meant for the man who has passed the house-holder's stage and has stepped or is about to step into Sannyasa (the condition of existence as a wandering homeless monk). If the house-holder did not resist evil or gave away his cloak also on being asked to part with his coat, the whole world would be over-run by evil and there would be an end to religion itself and to its votaries; but no harm can possibly accrue to society and Dharma (religion) if the saintly few who had renounced all interest in the various concerns of life adopted them as the guiding principles of their lives. For this reason the Sâdhu will turn the other cheek when smitten on one, but the layman will defend his rights and fight for what is his due. As the Sadhu has severed his connection with the world where men seek merit (Dharma), affluence (Artha) and pleasure (Káma), the only ideal. left to him to aspire after is Moksha, the state of eternal