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Chapter 18: Conclusion
238 authority. The saintly people, who resented such misuse, therefore raised the flag of revolt and set up new standards of conduct. Unfortunately, the spirit behind those standards was lost with the passage of time. The lay followers, however, continued to stick to those standards without making out the implications thereof. That gave rise to the lifeless rituals prevalent within different sects and sub-sects. They are mechanically resorted to in the name of Vyavahär. The essence of spiritual pursuit lies in gaining equanimity, and that can be done by cultivating detachment and by pacifying the passions. Only that Vyavahär should therefore be undertaken, which leads to detachment and to the calming down of the passions.
Similarly, the absolute concept is useful only to those who have experienced the purity of the soul. The illusory identification with the body is the root cause of the worldly life and that identification cannot cease simply by talking about the absolute nature of the soul. Aside from realizing the nature of the soul, the absolute viewpoint should be helpful in leading to right practice (Sadvyavahär). Otherwise, it would simply be meaningless.
As it stands at present, often there is a lack of purpose in the so-called Vyavahär. Similarly, there seems to be little noticeable spiritual development among the holders of the absolute point of view. The situation is thus less than satisfactory, and there is scope for improvement on both sides.
આગળ જ્ઞાની થઈ ગયા, વર્તમાનમાં હોય; થાશે કાળ ભવિષ્યમાં, માર્ગભેદ નહિ કોય.
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