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THE WAY OF LIFE
When should certain austerities be performed ? How should they be performed? What is the duration of each austerity ? etc. are described in full detail. What we should think of is whether we should attain our objectives by means of austerities or not? If we aspire for the right fruits, we would naturally be careful with respect to the manner of carrying them out.
There was a gentleman, an acquaintance of mine. He was a graduate. He was not familar with religious places or spiritual heads and mentors. He was earning money very well. His wife also happened to be a woman of the same likes and dislikes as he had. He was quite healthy. Everything was going on very well. At that time, he used to say. “I do not have any faith in the prescriptions and rules regarding the performance of spiritual activities. In the matter of spiritual activities such restrictions and restraints are not acceptable." He used to speak thus. But once, his wife was possessed by a ghost or some evil spirit. His wife's health was upset. The gentleman was greatly worried. Medical treatment did not have any effect. The treatment given by doctors did not prove efficacious. Someone suggested, "You go to a Darga (tomb) and do what you are instructed to do.” That gentleman went to a Darga. He had the desire to get his wife cured of her ailment; and desired that she should be healthy; so he was ready to go anywhere for that purpose; and he was prepared to do anything. He was ready to carry out any activity that was necessary. He performed all the rituals as suggested by the Fakir at the Darga.
CONFORMITY TO PRESCRIPTIONS ESSENTIAL IN THE MATTERS OF DHARMA
Why do you not perform spiritual austerities in the manner in which they should be performed ? You do not have the desire to achieve any objective by performing spiritual activities. So you perform them irregularly as you like. You have heard that by performing spiritual austerities in that negligent manner, you will gather punyakarma or merit. You might have heard some examples of that kind and you feel complacent. You
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