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MOKSHA MARG PRAKASHAK
There, many Jivas follow the external (religious) conduct either due to family-tradition or by observing others or under the influence of anger, pride, deceit and greed passions. Such people do not have even a religious bent of mind; how could they evolve right conduct? In such Jivas (followers of external conduct) some are ignorant and some others are passionate; so due to ignorance and passional feelings the right conduct can not be evolved. • And many Jivas believe: “What is there in knowing, fruit will be reaped only on practising religion.” Under such thoughts they continue making efforts of observing external religious conduct like vow, penance, etc. and do not make effort for attaining Tattva-Jnana (true knowledge of Tattvas). So without attaining the right knowledge of Tattvas even the practice of great vows, etc. is termed as false conduct only and on attaining the right knowledge of Tattvas one gets the title of vowless true believer even without practising vows, etc. Therefore, first of all one should make effort for attaining the right knowledge of Tattvas and thereafter, for the sake of lessening and destroying the passions, he should adopt the external means of right conduct. The same is described in Shravakaachara written by monk Shri Yogeendra Deva thus:
"दसंणभूमिहं बाहिरा जियवयरुक्ख ण हुति" ।
Meaning: "O Jiva ! without the base of this right belief the trees of vows, etc. are not possible, i.e., the Jivas who do not possess the right knowledge of Tattvas cannot practise the real right conduct”.
The same is being clarified hereunder: Many Jivas from the very beginning take (the oath of) higher vows without destruction of internal carnal desires and passions. Therefore, they want to fulfill the vow somehow. There, in such observance of vows, their inner feelings are hurt. For example, someone observes too many fasts and later on by becoming miserable like a patient passes the time somehow and does not practise the religious code. So, in the beginning itself, why should he not take such a vow only which he can observe? In such distressed feelings the Aarta-Dhyana (sorrowful concentration) only results, how could its fruit be agreeable? Or when the pain of that vow is not endured then in its place he adopts other means for fostering sensuality. For example, when he feels For Private & Personal Use Only
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