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Preface
Leave the conduct that makes you a vicious-soul (an extroverted-soul - bahirātmā). Adopt the conduct that makes you a righteous-soul (an introverted-soul - antarātmā). Emaciate this despicable body gradually, till it persists, through special austerities (tapa) like fasting, reduced diet, and giving up stimulating and delicious food. You can then reach the stage of the pure-soul (paramātmā), independent of all external sense-objects. Such is the resplendent own-nature of the soul, realized by the soul itself. (verses 193-194)
The body has evil senses which seek their respective pleasures; these sense-pleasures cause disrepute, toil, fear, and wicked after-life. The ignorant men nourish their body and indulge in sense-pleasures; they wish to live on poison. It is a pity that the anguished forest-dwelling ascetics, out of fear, shift for their safety near a village. (verses 195-197)
If the austerities are to be robbed by seductive half-glances of women, the wealth of asceticism is lost. The life of the householder is better than such asceticism. These, the body and the woman, are certainly not going to walk with you even one step; you will again be deceived. Leave friendship with this body; leave infatuation for this body. Due to karma, (incorporeal) you are getting one with this corporeal body and are facing excessive miseries. (verses 198-200)
The origination of the body is the mother, its death is the father, the mental agony and the disease are the brothers, and the old-age, which arrives at the last stage, are the friends. You are by nature, pure, allknowing, and without colour and taste, etc.; you have been greatly polluted by the body. You have suffered a lot due to your association with the body. To renounce this body will be your real valour. You should not be distressed by bodily afflictions, like disease. (verses 201-204)
When a disease supervenes, it should be combated with medicine, etc., to preserve the body. But if the disease is incurable and cannot be combated, then the body should be abandoned, as the second stage. If after all possible efforts, the disease remains incurable, there is no point grieving. It makes sense to leave the body; no point entertaining mean thoughts. It is the soul that makes even the all-impure body an object of adoration; it is the body that makes the soul untouchable. (verses 205-209)
(XXXIII)
