Sannyasa Dharma

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Champat Rai Jain

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SANNYASA DHARMA
as lies in his power, on the path of duty and dharma.*
With
wealth and
reference to the period of life at which the different ideals should be entertained, the first, namely, brahmacharya, is the period. for study varying from 16 to 25, at which student' ship terminates in different individuals, according to their circumstances. Artha begins with the termination of studentship, when the youth looks forward to the acquisition of entering into the connubial state. to be contracted when competence sufficient maintain a growing family is acquired. As a householder the individual is now expected to take part in national activity, whatever its form, according to his varna (occupation; suitability), and to give his best to his King and Country, in the shape of service and advice and work, retiring, finally, about the commencement of old age to undertak his soul's future welfare
Marriage is
to
* Cf. "Do not tarn to the opposite course aud immediately pursuc poverty and abasement, and an austere and solitary life.' On the contrary, show how wealth ought to be used for the benefit of others; accept posts of honour and distinction, and take advan. tage of your position to share your glory with those who are
worthy, to provide safety for the good, and to improve the bad by admonition; and instead of fleeing from the banqnet table, exhibit there the virtue of temperance. Those, who with squalid and
melancholy exterior, say that they despise glory and pleasure, are only hypocrites. We must first prove our virtue in public and pri. vato affairs, and then only may we pass on from the practical to the contemplative life." (Drummond's Philo Judaeus, Vol. i., pp. 24-25). I may be added, in explanation of Philo's views, that it is not practicable for a. generality of men to adopt the more rigid and austere life of asceticism all at once, so that they have to ra lually train themselves, through a preliminary coarse, for the harder life of a saint later on.
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