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DISCOURSE 12
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success of the experiment or austerity. A doctrine that has been experimentally proved is universally accepted and respected. It is accepted by all, by believers as well as disbelievers and sceptics. The practice of an austerity is the experiment and the Siddhantha or the doctrine describes the manner in which the experiment has to be carried out. Whatever austerity we have to carry out, we should first understand the manner of carrying out that austerity. We must master the Siddhantas that explain all the aspects of an austerity, from the beginning to the end. The austerity that is carried on according to prescriptions is called Dharma. Without a knowledge of the Siddhanta, if you perform an austerity in any manner you like, it is Adharma.
THE THEORY AND THE EXPERIMENT
You desire to seek the refuge of Dharma; do you not? If so, understand the real form and nature of Dharma. Perform every austerity deeming it an experiment. Do not students perform experiments in the laboratory? How do they perform them? When do they perform them? First, they learn the theory from their teacher and then they carry out the experiment with the guidance of their teacher. Have you studied and understood the theories of Dharma ? You have not understood the theories; yet you go into the laboratory, to perform experiments. The temple of the Paramatma is a laboratory. It is a laboratory where spiritual strength is generated and awakened. The Upashraya (the religious centre) also is a laboratory. In that place, various experiments are carried out to understand the nature of the soul. The meaning of the statement that you should perform spiritual activities ( qulfaaa ) according to prescriptions, is that you should carry out your austerities according to the theories relating to them so that those austerities may be according to Dharma.
QUEEN LILAVATHI DECIDES TO COMMIT SUICIDE
Even if it is a minor austerity, if it is carried out according to the scriptural prescriptions, it will surely bring its fruit. For example, telling the beads in a garland once, repeating the
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