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I am the Soul
279 remains, the interest in detachment does not arise within. If you let go of one interest then another better interest will arise within.
Brothers! Many people keep asking whether it is essential to become a saint to follow Dharma. Can one not follow Dharma being attached in the worldly life? Well, one can, that is not to be denied. But consider your ability. Living in the material world, with the demons of indulgence surrounding you, can you remain aloof? If you really can, then even being a householder you can pursue Dharma. But how many such jivas can there be? Hence, in all the Dharmic traditions of India great importance is attached to giving up the material world. When the ascetic way - sanyas - is accepted, one naturally gets into an atmosphere where the passions do not get encouragement, and one who has knowingly accepted the restraints, goes on improving the ability of Self through consistent devoted practice of Jnana and Darshana and ultimately attains the Soul!
Do undertstand that merely donning the garb of an ascetic - sadhu - is not the complete success of the devoted practice - sadhana. It is but the beginning of sadhana. The restraints have to be accepted because the scope and chances of doing sadhana are available more easily in this attire. And gradually the inner self gets immersed in the emotion of detachment.
But a person who merely talks about these things and considers such restraint as worthy of rejection, cannot overcome the feelings of indifference within and loses the life -bhava - in the indulgence of passions.
Matarthi is not straight-forward. The pre-condition for becoming an Atmarthi is straight-forwardness. Where there is straight-forwardness there alone is Dharma. It is said in the Shastras -
सोहि उज्जुय भूयस्स, धम्मो सुद्धस्स चिट्ठई
Dharma can remain in a straight-forward heart alone. You cannot be a revered - santa - until the thread - tanta - is cut. Only
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