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Jaina Path of Purification (Liberation)
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it and our organs (sense-organs and motor-organs) remain competent to perform their function properly.
Upādhyāya Yaśovijayaji in his Tapo'staka which forms a part of his work jñānasāra says:
tad evam hi tapaḥ kāryaṁ durdhyānaṁ yatra no bhavet / yena yogā na hīyante kşīyante nendriyāṇi ca // Translation: One should practise austerities in such a manner that there may not be unwholesome brooding, the powers of mind, speech and
body may not dwindle and deteriorate, and organs may not become weak. In this matter, the following verse provides us clear guidance. It declares:
kāyo no kevalam ayam paritāpanīyo / mistai rasair bahuvidhair na ca lalanīyaḥ // cittendriyāni na caranti yathotpathena / vaśyāni yena ca tad ācaritam jinänām // Gist: We should not simply subject the body to hardships, sufferings and tortures, nor should we fondle (pamper, spoil) it with various sweet juices; but we should live in such a manner that mind and organs may not go astray and remain under our control.
Thus the author of this verse, who is a devotee of Jina advises us to abandon two extremes and to adopt the middle path.
Bhagavad-Gītā sets forth in the following verse the universal standard of the right living.
yuktāhāravihārasya yuktacestasya karmasu / yuktasvāpāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duhkhahā /N1.17// Translation: For the person who is temperate in food and recreation, who is restrained in his activities, whose sleep and waking are well regulated, there ensues spiritual discipline (yoga) which destroys all misery
In short, the external austerities are to be practised for achieving the following auspicious purposes-for preventing diseases, for cultivating power of endurance so that in future one can properly serve others or can face hardships, for averting evil influences of the vicious act committed by a person who loves us, for doing good to others, for getting time for learning, study, teaching, reading, writing, thinking, for purifying mind, so on and so forth.
With a view to developing the spiritual power adequate for reducing
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