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Dr. S. K. Bharadwaj
(iii) sukaḍasevanam (sukṛtasevanam ), i.e., to perform benevolent deeds. After having developed hatred and repentance for evil deeds, the aspirant should make up his mind to perform benevolent deeds. He should generate in himself the feeling of service towards everybody whether he may be the most reverend authority as arhat, siddha, sädhu or teacher or the common man. He should repeatedly announces his promise to render service and perform auspicious deeds. The above means,prepare the aspirant to step on the path of liberation. A seed of destruction of sinful deeds is thus shown and the ground for the process of liberation is prepared.
Righteous Practice
After making preliminary preparations, the aspirant of liberation should lead a life of righteousness. He should reflect on the qualities of virtuous deeds, their inherent goodness, their fruit, their beneficence and their serving as the means of liberation. He should follow the practice prescribed by religious scriptures. He should take a vow to abstain from (i) causing injury to the living beings, (ii) telling lies, (iii) stealing, (iv) sexuality and (v) storing. He should seek and obey the injunctions of righteousness. He should avoid the company of unvirtuous persons. He should abstain from the acts not conducive to the interests of the people. He should be compassionate to human beings. He should renounce all sinful deeds realising that they are the cause of bondage. He should keep the company of. virtuous persons. He should perform the righteous duties of his household. Heshould maintain the purity of mind, speech and actions. He should free himself from emotional impulses such as pain or pleasure. He should free himself from the feeling of attachment because attachment is the cause of bondage.
While practising his household duties in the chaste manner he should awake from the slumbers of worldly delusion. He should realise that the sensual pleasures are without substance and inevitably perishable. He should also keep in mind the all-annihilating and irresistible death noting that only the righteous living can remove the fear of death.
Renunciation of the World
After having performed his household duties the aspirant should resort to asceticism. Realising the cycle of miseries in the process of birth and death and, transitory character of worldly relations, he should renounce the chase for worldly affairs. Resorting to the feet of his preceptor he should maintain equanimity with regard to the pain and pleasure. He should renounce the greed and the sense of difference. He should consider a clod of earth and gold or a friend or foe alike.
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