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(3) Study and Meditation : Reading of good books will lead us to high thinking and simple living. As a result our soul is uplifted. A daily reading of 3-4 pages will amount to nearly a thousand pages a year. Religious books serve the purpose of a true spiritual friend.
(4) Self Control : Control of the five senses prevents us from going astray. It works as a brake and leads us on the path of righteousness. Hence, practise two samayiks or observe other vows everyday and make your life worth living.
(5) Penance : We eat to sustain our body, but penance and fasting lead us nearer to the ideal of original foodless state of soul. Hence, penance like 'Navkarshi' etc, must be observed to form a habit.
(6) Charity : We have the instinct of greed or acquisition since begining less time, but in order to lesson its hold, we should form the habits of charity. We should give things from a little that we may have to reduce the sense of possession of material things. Translating into action what we read is the real fruit of study.
A special request to him who takes the Vows : There are various types of vows. Out of these, one should definately observe any five convenient to him.
One may be folding hands and bowing down before the Idol and worship it daily as a routine or a family tradition; but if this is done under a pledge (vow), it produces matchless benefits.
If we observe penance like fasting or an Aymbil without a vow or pledge(Pachhakhana) these penences prove barren as they yield no fruit. So one must take pledge 'Pachhakhana' while practising any kind of penance(small or big). Do not be afraid of taking vows or pledge for fear of breaking them. Observe them for a while for some months or for a year. To your surprise you will find it easy to practise if there is a will to do so.
What to do if you forget your Vows ? Please decide to count 3, 5 or 9 times the Navkar Mantra if you break or forget your daily vows or while taking your meals do not eat at least one of the items prepared or cooked in the kitchen. This will save you from the sin of breaking or forgetting your vows. Even a faulty copying of a letter of alphabet with practice ultimately leads us to its correct form, so keep practicise in observing the VOWS.
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