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114
THE WAY OF LIFE
PERFORM SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES WITH A PROPER KNOWLEDGE OF THEM
Those who perform spiritual activities, looking at others and imitating them, spoil and distort the activities. Those people referred to above performed the austerity of Pratikraman but they did not know its meaning and method. Those who want to perform Pratikraman must consider Avashyak Sutra as the authentic grantha; must study it thoroughly and understand the Sutras and their meaning; and then they should perform Pratikraman.
From the Audience: We do not know even the meaning of the word, Pratikraman.
Maharajashri : Therefore, even after you perform Pratikraman, you will not hate sins. Your sins in life have not been reduced. "We should not commit sins thus", This idea also has not become firm in your minds. What do you gain by performing Pratikraman without knowing the Shastras that contain a description of the method of performing it?
There are only a few people who perform Pratikraman every day. On such holy days as the festival of Paryushan, lakhs of men and women perform the austerity of Pratikraman. How is that austerity performed by them? You perform the austerity is some manner; but do you have respect for and faith in the Shastras that contain a description of the austerity? If not, that austerity will not be a spiritual activity, in the true sense of the term. Whatever austerity you want to perform, you need a knowledge of the Shastra that describes the austerity and you must have respect for it, and you have to perform the austerity as prescribed in the Shastras.
A SHARP INTELLIGENCE IS NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND DHARMA
The great acharya says with a broad and generous point of view that spiritual activities should conform to indisputable prescriptions. Aviruddhadwachanath. Vachana means here Shastra; Whatever Shastra it may be; whoever might have
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