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THE ESSENCE IN THE WORLD
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57.
See! What is right (conduct) is (right) knowledge and what is (right) knowledge is right (conduct).
ANNOTATION 57. From the pragmatic point of view, knowledge and conduct are distinct from each other. But from the point of view of ultimate truth, they are not poles apart. The culmination of Right Knowledge and Spiritual Experience is Right Conduct (i.e. self-discipline or asceticism). The aim of the aphorism is to underline the fact that self-discipline is the sum and substance of Right Knowledge. How can knowledge which is not conducive to self-discipline remain Right and Proper unto the last? The purport of the author here is to elucidate the unity of Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. According to him, Right Knowledge implies existence of Right Conduct, and vice-versa. We can infer the existence of one from the other.
Another Sanskrit equivalent of the word samma can be samya' (besides samyak). This interpretation which means equanimity is very relevant here. If we choose this inter pretation the present sutra can be translated thus:
See! What is equanimity is asceticism; and what is asceticism is equanimity.
५८. ण इमं सक्कं सिढिलेहिं अद्दिज्जमाणेहिं गुणासाएहिं वंकसमायारेहिं
पमत्तेहिं गारमावसंतेहि। 58. Na imam sakkaṁ siờhilehin addijjamānehim gunāsă
ehiṁ vamkasamāyārehis pamattehim gäramăvasar
tehim. 58. The practice of this (knowledge) is not feasible for
them who are unsteady, drenched in affection, lustful, of deceitful conduct, stupefied (with passions), and householders.
५६.भुनी मौनं समावाए, धुने कम्म-सरीर। 59. Mumi monaṁ så māvåe, dhune kamma -sariragam. 1. Cf. 2/103.
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