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RITUAL tapas are concerned almost exclusively with the riddance of the internal filth, not with the washing of the outer carcass or with bodily distortions and poses. Physical posture, fasting and the like are, no doubt,necessary for progress on the path, but they are only accessories to self-contemplation, which is the direct cause of libera. tion. For without the controlling of the mind, speech and body it is not possible to enjoy any thing like steadiness in dhyána (meditation or contemplation); but without the dhyâna itself what purpose shall be served by simple bodily mortification and self-torture? Neither Raja Yoga (uriion through the mind) nor Hatha Yoga (the path of physical austerity) is likely to lead to satisfactory results for this reason. Even Jnana Yoga (the path of knowledge) is not the right method by itself. The proper path consists in the union of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct, as defived, in an earlier lecture. Bhakti Yoga (devotion) is certainly a very useful ally on the path, is rightly employed.
The object of devotion is, however not a mythological god or goddess, but one's own soul primarily, though so long as perfection is not attained, one must idealise and be devoted to the Tirthamkaras than whom there can be no greater Teacher. As the Qur'an pointedly asks (Sura Baqr, verse 132): "The baptism of God! and who is better than God at bap
tiging ? and we are to Him servante." The life of Jesus is an epitome, in charming allegory, of the life of a Tirthamkara. It is the highest
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