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Metaphysics, Ethics and Spiritual Development
non-violence and truth); spiritual elevation of life can never be attained by mere performance of rituals. Yet, if any philosophical system helps man practise true religion and if any ritualistic system instils in him joy and zeal to practise religion, then both the philosophical system and the ritualistic system become spiritually beneficial to him.
Thus religion is the most important thing. And the beauty of a philosophical or a ritualistic system lies only in its becoming useful and helpful to man in his practice of religion. That philosophical or ritualisic system which helps man practise religion proves itself to be spiritual ambrosia for him. So, the attitude which considers religion to be different with different philosophical or ritualistic systems is wrong and hence it should be given up. All those who follow the right path of non-violence and truth-let them be in lakh or crore-should be regarded as followers of one and the same religion, the co-religionists (sādharmika).
Spiritual good depends not on one's acquisition of vast scriptural knowledge, but on putting into practice the principles that one's understanding and intellect find wholesome. Even dull persons have crossed the ocean of transmigratory cycle, putting into practice the teaching that one should abandon immoral and unjust conduct as also attachment and aversion. Though they are dull in intellect, they are naturally inclined to what is spiritually true and wholesome. On the other hand, great pundits, scholars and philosophers lack this inclination and understanding; as a result of it, they remain submerged in the ocean of transmigratory existence.
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No doubt that many display their cleverness in saying, 'Not that whatever is mine is true; but whatever is true is mine'. But in practice, they are too much attached to their own views, parties or sects and do not halt even for a while to reflect as to what truth is, wherein it lies, etc.; they are guided by the strong prejudice that their own views are right and those of others are wrong. As a result, they denigrate others calling them atheists, infidels, irreligious, upholders of wrong views, etc. They lack power of discretion and judgement.
It is natural that we put faith in those persons whom we regard as authority. But faith should not be blind. Faith, though placed in right authority, is not enlightened and unshakable, if it is not based on the foundation of reason and discretion. When it is backed by reason and discretion, it becomes right and spiritually beneficial.
It is easy to utter statements like 'one should accept him as authority whose statements stand to reason' (yuktimad vacanam yasya tasya kāryaḥ
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