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Jaina Philosophy and Religion
one has to undertake for the benefit (material, mental and spiritual) of oneself as well as of others. One should undertake such worldly practice as one's duty. This worldly conduct or practice continues as long as the body is alive. If it is pure and associated with pure love, it does not act as an obstruction to the attainment of liberation.
One can easily imagine how greatly the light of the definitive standpoint which is but the pure spiritual standpoint, enlightens and guides the outward life-the worldly dealings, behaviour or practice-of a man in whose temple of innermost heart burns the lamp of this pure spiritual standpoint. Such a good person behaves righteously and affectionately with his or her spouse, servants or master, customers or relatives, or anyone who comes in his or her contact. Such noble behaviour is possible then and then only, when one has already attained a lofty spiritual stage. It is the true pilgrimage to the spiritual Good.
The learned saints teach us to harmoniously employ both these standpoints in our life and direct us to keep both our outer and inner lives pure.
There occurs in Acārāngasūtra (Adhyāya 4, Uddeśa 2), a Jaina canonical work, the following sūtra which enunciates the non-one-sided viewpoint (anekānta-dysti): je āsavā te parissavā, je parissavā te āsavā / Meaning: What acts as the cause of bondage (āsava) can act as the cause of release (parissava), and vice versa.
To explain, that very activity which causes bondage of karmas in the case of the ignorant and indiscreet causes dissociation or destruction of karmas in the case of the learned and discreet. Conversely, that very activity which causes dissociation or destruction of karmas in the case of the learned and discreet causes bondage of karmas in the case of the ignorant and indiscreet.
Whatever activity the learned and wise undertake, they undertake with a view to doing good to all living beings. They wish welfare of all beings. They have no pride or egotism. They do not think that they are obliging others. They do not desire fame, reward or award. Of course, they eat and drink, enjoy the comforts of life, and keep their body fit and healthy. All this they do in order that their mind remain sound and unagitated as also that they can continue to be bodily and mentally efficient to do more and more good to others. They consider their body and mind to be the prime instrument for bringing good to others. It becomes their nature to help others, to do good to them. And when they behave
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