Way of Life Part 1

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

Page 263

DISCOURSE 15
253
impure heart punyakarma will gather but that punyakarma increases your sin when the punyakarma appears in you. You understand one point thoroughly. You cannot keep a lofty aim alive in your impure heart. In fact in an impure mind the aspiration for salvation does not appear. If you do not experience emotional exaltation in your impure heart, make your spiritual activity an emotional activity. Dravyakriya or a ritual with substances is the name given to the austerity which is carried out with the aim of attaining a lofty emotion. A spiritual activity is said to be dharma when it is carried out with the aim of self-purification. DO NOT HATE SORROWS AND DO NOT DESIRE PLEASURES
The fear of sorrows and the desire for happiness pollute the heart. Even on account of the fear of sorrows and the desire for happiness, man commits sins; man performs improper actions. Man will never commit sins if he does not fear sorrows and if he does not desire physical enjoyments.
Madanrekha's heart was above sorrows and happiness. It was not involved in the fear of sorrows and the desire for happiness. That is why though Manirath adopted many deceptive devices to win her mind, she did not yield to his wicked desires. She walked alone through the forest because she had no fear of sorrows. In going thus away into a forest, her only objective was to safeguard her chastity. How pure and sublime was her mind!
The next day also she continued her journey through the forest. In the evening, she took shelter in a safe place, under a huge tree. During the day, she had eaten fruits and had drunk water at a cataract. There was a beautiful lake nearby and the entire vicinity was beautiful and fascinating. It was a desolate place. Of course, she had to think of the danger from the wild animals of the forest but there was no feeling of violence in the wild animals towards Madanrekha. THE EFFICACY OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION
This point is mentioned in the history of Madanrekha and it is not an imaginary or false description. It is a true story;