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To become perfect, absolutely, divinely perfect, is an ideal beyond the world, and he who has set his hand to the plough must not look back. To co so will mean the ruination of all his hopes. To appreciatethe reason of the rules of conduct constituting the Sadhu's dharma, it is necessary to bear in mind the fact that Spirit and matter are two separate substances with separate and specific attributes of their own. Spirit is characterized by infinite knowledge, that is, omnis. cience, infinite perception, infinite happiness, immortality and a great many other attributes, all of which are divine, so that every spirit is a God in itself. But in combination with matter, that is to say, by the association of the physical body in which it is ensouled, its divine perfections have become defiled and vitiated, and its attributes of Godhood are not in evidence and manifest Freedom from matter, that is to say, the complete separation from all material association is to be brought about for this reason, if the perfection of Divinity and Godhood is to be attained, In other words, tbe body of matter has to be thrown off completely. Nothing short of this will do. But how is the body to be got rid off ? By killing oneself by starvation, self-mortification or torture of some kind ? No, for that will simply lead to the formation of a new body in the next re-birth. This is because death can only destroy the outer body of gross matter, but cannot touch the inner vestments of the soul which adhere to it, crippling its powers and faculties. So long as these remain in existence the soul passes from life to life, in transmigration, whenever the outer body of gross matter happens to be destroyed, naturally,
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