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263.
264
265.
Withdrawal from the immoral (conduct) and devoting one's self to the moral ( conduct) is styled 'conduct from the empirical standpoint. This conduct is occupied with vows, carefulness in walking, speaking, etc. and with the restraint ( of mind, body and speech). This has been said so by the Jina (spiritual victor) Know this. The person who is not able to pursue actions directed toward austerity and self-restraint does not attain supreme peace, although always disposed to ( the pursuit of ) scriptural knowledge. Only because of the absence of virtuous action ( in the life of an individual), mere knowledge is not the effecter of desired peace, just as more knowledge does not carry to the desired place the knower of a path who is void of efforts or just as the vessell without the force ot) air does not carry one to the desired destination. What purpose will the scriptures studied thoroughly by the person devoid of good conduct, serve ? Just as what purpose will the thousands and crores of lamps illumined by the blind man, serve ( for him)? Even on having been educated a little, the person who has been occupied with good conduct excels an erudite one, but what is the use of much scriptural knowledge to him who is devoid of good conduct ?
266.
267.
(B) Transcendental Conduct:
268
269.
According to the transcendental standpoint it is said that (when) the self is absorbed in his own self, then, that (obsorbtion in the highest sell) is certainly transcendental conduct. That saint (who practises this) attains supreme peace. Having experienced which ( the real sell ), when the yogi translates into life the renouncement of virtue (good mental tension) and that of vice (bad mental tension), then, that has been proclaimed to be tensionless conduct by the Arahantas (embodied spiritually perfect personalities).
Samaņasuttam-Vol 1
73
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