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DISPOSITIONS THAT STRENGTHEN THE VOWS
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objects? But it is not happiness, since it only relieves pain for the moment, as scratching in the case of a person suffering from itch or scabies.
Again other attitudes are described. मैत्रीप्रमोदकारुण्यमाध्यस्थानि च सत्त्वगुणाधिकक्लिश्यमानाविनेयेषु ॥ ११ ॥
Maitripramodakārunyamādhyasthāni ca
sattvaguņādhikakliśyamānāvineyeșu (11) 11. Benevolence towards all living beings, joy at the sight of the virtuous, compassion and sympathy for the afflicted, and tolerance towards the insolent and ill-behaved,
The desire that others should be free from suffering and pain is benevolence. Fervent affection as well as veneration in the presence of the virtuous is joy. The disposition to render assistance to the afflicted is compassion. Tolerance or unconcern is freedom from attachment and repulsion based on desire and aversion. Those who are afflicted in several kinds of wombs owing to the ripening of inauspicious karmas are the living beings. The virtuous are those in whom right knowledge etc. abound. The afflicted are those who suffer from anguish and distress on the rise of unpleasant feelingproducing karmas. The ill-bebaved are those who don't listen to the truth and don't cultivate virtues. Benevolence etc. must be practised towards living beings and others respectively
—that is, benevolence towards all living beings, devotion to the virtuous, compassion towards the tormented and unconcern towards the indecorous and insolent persons. He who conducts himself in this manner is able to practise nonviolence and other vows to perfection. Again some other ways of contemplation are described.
जगत्कायखभाषौ वा संवेगवैराग्यार्थम 1182 Jagatkāyasvabhāvau vā samvegavairāgyārtham (12) 12. Or the nature of mundane existence (the universe) and the body (may also be contemplated) in order to cul at the misery of worldly existence and detachment to worldly things.
1 Joy denotes fervent affection as well as esteem for the virtuous.
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