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STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM
Anuprēksā (contemplation) is a struggle, a battle. First we have to fight against the place we sit in, then against the seats on which we sit, then against the clothes we wear, then against our bodies and last against the karma body. We have to fight against anger, pride, deceit, attachments, aversions, jealousy etc. The initial struggle is a struggle against external enemies. The front then changes and the practitioner begins to struggle within himself. Once the internal struggle begins, the practitioner becomes immersed in the feeling of friendliness. He has to be friendly towards everything outside him. His external struggle ends in a truce. He cannot struggle on two fronts simultaneously. He can fight on a single front only, either on the external front or on the internal front. If he fought on two fronts, he will be defeated. If he desires victory, he will have to fight the external and internal enemies by turns. The battle which he has to fight is like the battle between Bharata and Bahubali. Bharata was the emperor of a vast kingdom and commanded a huge army. Bāhubali, on the other hand, was the king of a smaller kingdom and the forces at his disposal were very small. The battle is an allegory. Bharata is a symbol of the forces of delusion and ignorance and Bāhubati symbolizes the emergence of consciousness. Bharata demanded of Bahubali that he should accept the former as his overlord which he refused to. He declared that he would preserve his independence and sovereignty at any cost.
Mankind has always been subjected to delusion. But strong willed men like Bahubali have always resisted it. They always forced the forces of delusion to retreat. The practitioner of sādhanã will always maintain his independence and
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