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Chapter 1: Background
8
It should be noted that rituals are not totally rejected here. They are generally meant to benefit average aspirants and beginners. There is therefore no reason to denigrate the importance of the rituals, but some of them have lost their relevance at present. Moreover, every ritual has some purpose. The purpose behind the rituals and their relevance should always be kept in mind while performing them, otherwise they become mechanical or lifeless, and do not yield the real expected benefit. The rituals are primarily meant for cultivating detachment and for augmenting the sense of devotion. Their ultimate objective is to gain equanimity. The lifeless ritualists fail to understand this fact.
Austerities also are mostly observed with such notions. The main purpose of the external austerities is to develop bearing capability so as to maintain equanimity under difficult circumstances. For example, fasting is meant for developing capability to stay without food for some time, and Äyambil for getting used to fatless and tasteless foods. Those purposes are often lost sight of, and people mostly observe austerities with a view to earn Punya.
The lifeless rituals are often carried out with ulterior motives. The desire to be known as a religious person in the community, the desire to have heavenly pleasures in the next life, the desire to follow the family traditions, and the fear of hell's miseries are some examples of ulterior motives. The lifeless ritualists believe that mere observance of austerities and other restraints, reciting prayer, going to temple, etc. would result in eradication of the unwholesome Karma and lead them to the Karmaless state. They overlook the fact that lifeless observance of the rituals would lead to wholesome Karma adding cycles of birth and death, and will never lead to the Karmaless state.
As a matter of fact, no activity without internal bearing and true understanding can lead to liberation. The people,
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