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CHAPTER-VII
329
which means- "Where passions, carnal pleasures and food are forsaken, it is called a fast(Upavasa); mere forsaking of food is termed Langhan (missing a meal) by the preceptors.”
Here he argues-“If this be so, then we will not observe fast etc.?"
Answer: Discourse is meant for upward movement (in spiritual path); what can we do if you adopt the path of reversion? If you observe fast, etc. with pride passion, etc., then observing or not observing (the fast, etc.) both are meaningless. And if you give up affection towards food, etc. with religious attitude then in whatever measure attachment is reduced, it is real reduction; but you should not feel contented by knowing and believing this (fasting, etc.) itself to be the penance and also cause of Nirjara (shedding of karmas).
And under the internal penances, the external observance in the activities performed in the form of expiation, reverence, service, study, renunciation and meditation, is to be known similar to that of external penances only. As fasting, etc. are external activities, similarly these too are also external activities; therefore, external observances of expiation, etc. are not internal penance. In such external activities if there be internal purity of thoughts, the same is called internal penance.
There too it should be particularly noted that on evolution of high degree of purity the thoughts get turned into Shuddhopayoga form which causes shedding of karmas (Nirjara) only; bondage is not caused. And on evolution of lower degree of purity, some degrees of Shubhopayoga (auspicious thought activity) also exist; therefore, in whatever measure purity is evolved, it causes Nirjara and whatever degrees of auspicious dispositions are still found, the same cause bondage. Such a mixed state of disposition is found in one and the same unit of time due to which both bondage and Nirjara (shedding) are caused.
Here someone may say- “By auspicious dispositions the shedding of Papa (vice) karmas and bondage of Punya (virtue) karmas take place, but why do you not accept that by pure (passionless) dispositions shedding of both Papa & Punya karmas is caused?
Answer: While ascending in the path of liberation, reduction of duration of all kinds of Prakrities (karmas) takes place; there lies no For Private & Personal Use Only
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