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SANNYASA DH A BM A
to the fixity and steadiness of larmi destroying dhyāna.
(8) Samvara anuprekshā.-Samvara (control) is the stoppage of asrava, the karmic influx. Nothing can be done without samvara ; no progress is possible without self-control, Steadily must the principle be put into practice and its sustentation upheld. This is the main thing on the path of progress. What has been described as renunciation, vairāgya and the like in different systems, is really samvara, which is the root of asceticism. Without it all labour is in vain. The physical body must be carried by the ascetic as if it were a wooden beam, or cross, on which his soul were impaled. He can hope to release the soul only by the destruction of tbe cross. But the terrible structure of 'wood' can be destroyed only by literally tearing away the mind from the outside world (temptations) from which it derives its nourishment.
Hence, sumvaru must be practised regularly by those who seek eternal life, freedom, release, and joy everlasting.
This and the next anuprekshū are necessary for the destruction of karmas. Samvara by itself acts as the hot pitch to stop the cracks and holes in a leaky boat. It closes up the channels of asrava, so that further influx of sin and karmic matter is rendered impossible, leaving the soul free to deal with the existing bunds, which are soon destroyed by the principle of nirjarā.
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