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BHAVANA BODH
21
Namiraj :- (Inspired by objects and reasons) One who adopts ascetic life and practises self-control, obtains higher benefits than giving everymonth ten lakhs of cows to Brahmins in charity
Brahmin :- As an well-behaved ascetic or a recluse, one has to put in much unbearable effort for maintaining oneself on begging food. Therefore one feels like leaving that high natured life and taking up some other comfortable one. To remove this difficulty, it would be advisable for you to lead a household life and perform religious observances such as Paushad. O you king of men!I tell you the right course of conduct for you.
Namiraj :-(Inspired by objects and reasons) O Brahmin ! An ignorant man, indiscriminatively may perform or undergo difficult penances but they can never be equal to the following of the right religion of the enlightened and all knowing Vardhman Mahavir. His discipline forms one's character spotlessly pure. Only one of the excellences cannot be equal to sixteen excellences !
Brahmin :- 0 Kshatriya ! You first increase your possession of gold, diamonds, pearls, costly dressess, valuable ornaments, horses etc and then you can go as a recluse.
Namiraj :- (Inspired by objects and reasons) A greedy person's greed is not satisfied even if he is given innumerable mountains of gold and silver such as Meru Mountain; he still desires more and more to achieve and he is never satisfied. Strong desire for gold and wealth has no end like the endless sky. Wealth, gold, fourlegged animals etc may be given to a greedy man in as much quantity and number as to fill all the hollow of this world and still he will want more; in short, his greed will always remain unsatisfied. This is the miserable nature of a man's greed. Therefore, enlightened souls follow the penance of contentment.
Brahmin :- (Inspired by objects and reasons) O Kshatriya ! It gives me unprecedented wonder that you renounce the life of enjoyment of worldly pleasures which are to your bidding and later on when these pleasures are no more available, you will be mentally tormented when you desire them but you cannot have them. I
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