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THE WAY OF LIFE
austerities for all these years, until now I have attained neither purity of thought nor of conduct. What shall I do ? Am I performing my spiritual austerities in an improper manner? Are they not being performed according to prescriptions ? I am not performing the austerities as they should be performed. Why is it the feeling of peace has not appeared in my soul? Where am I entangled? This life is short. Very soon, the light of life will be put out. I cannot know where it goes. Where does it go in the other world? Will my soul again be caught in the cycle of 84 lakh yonis or forms and keep wandering in them ?"
DO YOU AT ANY TIME THINK OF YOUR SOUL?
Have you rightly thought about your soul in this manner? If you get your house fitted with electric installation and when the wiring, fitting etc. are over, if light does not appear, when you switch it on, at once, you get the fittings examined. You will wonder why light is not flashing, though the fitting has been done; the switch-board has been set up and the meter has been fixed. You would send for the electrical engineer and ask him to set it right. He will come and examine the entire fittings and then say, "How can you get light when electric connection has not been given to your house ?" You must understand that even if electric connection has been given to your house and if there is some defect in the fitting, light will not appear. You search for the defect. Though you have been performing spiritual austerities for years, enlightenment has not appeared in your soul. Still there is darkness filling your soul. So, you will naturally worry about it. Do you worry about it? Do you look towards your soul? You see the whole world but you don't see your own soul. How intelligent you are? You will keep worrying over your torn slippers worth only two rupees but you are careless regarding your own precious soul. Remember that if you do not think of your own soul no one else will help you to attain spiritual elevation and awakening.
Think a little with concentration what exactly is the present condition of your soul. You perform spiritual activities yet has there been light in your life's activities or in the thoughts of
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