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violence which are pushed in fore-front under the pretext of being religious rites. For this reason you should be on your guards perfectly when you judge the claim of a religion to be worth the name.
Again when any so-called religion is presented before you, you should consider how far self-restraint is emphasised in that religion. If luxuries, entertainments and sensual pleasures are allowed anyhow and control of senses is not given due importance then rest assured that it is not the religion ideal and beneficial for you.
Lastly you should also scrutinize in a religion what importance is attached to austerities. When no such importance is attached then such religion cannot annihilate your karmas. Some people presuming futility of physical austerities emphasise mental austerities. Just see what kind of daily mode of life they practise :
"Shakya Putra realised that emancipation can be attained by professing religion which prescribes sleeping in soft beds, drinking milk in the early morning and sipping rich broth, relishing full dinner at noon, drinking liquor in the afternoon and swallowing grapes and sugar".
Gentlemen, this is the main standard of testing a religion and the same has been laid down by the Omniscient Lords. Utilize this standard scrupulously and you will be able to judge true religion to cross over the worldly ocean.
We shall discuss further in this connection at the proper time.
