Way of Life Part 1

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 234

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THE WAY OF LIFE
whatever spiritual austerities you perform; whatever spiritual vows you undertake, they do not constitute Dharma. The great Telugu poet and seer, Yogi Vemana says the same thing. If you want to make your life meaningful and fruitful by performing an austerity in the right manner, and if you want to attain spiritual development, first of all chasten and purify your mind. When sinful thoughts can pierce you and cause pain to you like thorns, you would dispel those thoughts. But now, you feel that they are like flowers.
The attachment for inert physical objects causes hatred for living beings. Why do you not think of the happiness, welfare and progress of others? Why do you think of your own welfare and happiness? You have attachment and love for inert objects. This is the root-cause of your hatred for living beings. The attachment for inert things brings about hatred for living beings.
HATRED IS BORN OUT OF ATTACHMENT
You love money; do you not ? Suppose you gave one thousand rupees to your brother. He has promised to retum the amount to you. If he does not return the amount to you in time, what would you feel? You would get angry with him; would you not? You would hate your brother. You hate him because you love money. Attachment gives rise to hatred. Attachment is the mother of hatred. Money is inert; while your brother is a living being. Your attachment for an inanimate thing makes you hate a living being. In disputes relating to money brothers beat each other. A father murders his son for money. A husband burns his wife for money. You read about such things in newspapers. You read about them; but you do not ponder over them. This is a great pity. You hear my words and precepts but you do not ponder over them; so they do not bring about any change in your lives.
One feels fascinated by the beauty of the body of a lady. The body is inert but what is the effect of his attachment for the body ? If that woman does not allow the man to touch her what happens ? He will hate that woman. He may abduct her;