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104
THE WAY OF LIFE
PERFORMING SENSELESS AUSTERITIES
Do you desire to study the scriptures that contain the doctrines of the Jin? Do you desire to understand them? If so, please join me in this endeavour. Yes. But you have to discard your attachment to your house and to your shop. You have to study day and night; as long as you are alive. If you cannot do that, act according to the prescriptions given to you by those who know; having full faith in those prescriptions. Will you believe in them? Will you perform your religious and spiritual activities at the time prescribed; at the place prescribed; and with the substances and aids prescribed? Will you carry out those activities austerely, respecting the prescriptions? There is no method in your performance of austerities; you do not have respect for principles; you do not think of the propriety of time and place. There is a total absence of the appropriate emotions and attitudes in you; but how proud you are of such senseless activities! Stop such senseless activities; develop the necessary awareness; otherwise, there will be a dismal reaction.
ARE YOU FEELING GUILTY OF YOUR MISTAKES
Well, at least, do you realize that you are not performing your spiritual activities according to the prescriptions of the Jin? If you are aware of it, are you unhappy about it? Will you admit with a sincere heart that you are not performing your spiritual activities according to the Jin's prescriptions; that you are carrying on those actions without devotion and austerity and discipline? Would you say, "Those people, perform austerities according to the Jin's prescriptions... When will I be able to perform spiritual activities thus? When will I have that good fortune ?" Will you think thus? You commit mistakes; but you do not consider them as mistakes. When that is so, how can you regret your mistakes and feel unhappy about them? How can you have any reverence for those who perform austerities in the proper manner? Since you do not have the objective of performing your austerities in accordance with prescriptions, you cannot attain Dharma in this life. The great acharya, Haribhadra Soori advises people to perform spiritual austerities
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