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424
JAIN RAMAYAN
“O you revered one! Are you suffering from any disease or any physical ailment? Actually your body is withered and weak.”
“We cannot attain spiritual progress without causing the body to grow withered and weak on account of spiritual austerities. We have to exercise a restraint on our body and our senses. In order to attain imperishable spiritual felicity, we have to discard the momentary sensual pleasures" Sita said explaining the change in her appearance.
"But is not the body, the primary means to carry out spiritual endeavours ? Is it not necessary to keep the body sound and healthy ?"
"Lav! Our attachment for the body is the greatest impediment on the path of Moksha. The attachment for the body and the senses entangles the jiva in passions and sensual cravings. Therefore, spiritual austerities constitute the right means to discard our attachment for the body. The body is created not merely for physical enjoyments but also as a means to carry out spiritual endeavours. Therefore, spiritual austerities constitute the most efficacious means to attain spiritual elevation".
"But revered mother ! You have renounced the world and adopted the path of Samyam and when that is so where is the need for carrying out severe spiritual austerities ?”
"Dear child! When we renounce the samsar and worldly life and adopt the Charitradharma, we lose all our attachment for relatives, wealth and worldly delights but the body remains with us; doesn't it? It is absolutely necessary to discard our attachment for the body. It we do not discard the attachment for our body, we cannot escape from the snares of sensual passions and the consequent anguish. Therefore, it is necessary that we should discard our attachment for the body. The tender and sweet words uttered by Sita rendered Lav and Kush silent and spell-bound. They admired their mother's spiritual excellence. She taught them the way to spiritual elevation. Lav,
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