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CHAPTER-VII
But on considering the difference between Shubha and Ashubha thoughts & acts, it becomes clear that passions become feeble in Shubha-bhavas (auspicious thoughts) and therefore bondage of karmas also gets reduced. In Ashubha-bhavas (inauspicious thoughts) the passions get intensified and therefore, the bondage of karmas also gets increased. Thus, deliberating from this angle, Shubha (pious thoughts & acts) is stated to be better than Ashubha (impious thoughts & acts) in the scripture. For instance, the disease is harmful only whether it is less or more severe; but in comparison to more severity less severity is said to be better also.
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Therefore, so long as Shuddhopayoga (state of pure passionless conduct) is not attained it is desireable to keep oneself engaged in Shubha (virtuous conduct) by getting rid of Ashubha (vicious conduct). But it is not desirable to engross oneself in the Ashubha (vicious conduct) by forsaking Shubha (virtuous conduct).
Again he says- "The inauspicious tendency of satisfying the desire of lust or hunger, etc. cannot be avoided and one has to indulge in auspicious proclivity willfully; but the true believer wants to avoid desires, therefore, making effort of Shubha (pious conduct) is not desirable.
Answer: Engagement of Upayoga in auspicious acts increases the feeling of renunciation which in turn reduces passional (sexual) feelings and restlessness caused by hunger, etc. Hence, one should practise Shubhopayoga. If in spite of making such effort, lust and hunger, etc. cause distress, then for their remedy, one should engage oneself in those acts which are less sinful. But indulging freely in sinful acts by forsaking the Shubhopayoga is not disirable.
Further, your agrument is that the true believer does not want to have any desire and Shubhopayoga is practised willfully. Our reply is that though a person does not want to give even a little amount of his money yet wherever he feels that great amount of money is likely to be lost, he makes effort willfully to give some quantity of money. Similarly, the true believer does not want to engage even in an act involving slightest amount of passion but wherever he feels possibility of involvement in inauspicious acts causing great passion, he willfully makes effort to engage his Upayoga in acts involving less passions.
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