________________
300
THE WAY OF LIFE DO YOU TAKE DELIGHT IN COMMITTING SINS ?
From the Audience: Do you mean to say that those who come to the temple and the Upashray are not under the influence of Papanubandhipunya ? Are they all people who are in the possession of Punyanubandhi Punya ?
Maharajashri: There is no such rule or stipulation. We cannot say that those people are under the influence of Papanubandhi Punya, if they consider a sin as a sin, if they have a genuine feeling that sins should be discarded; yet are not capable of discarding sins. Those who are under the influence of Papanubandhipunya consider even sins as duties. Even if people having such an opinion, come to temples and Upashrayas, they are said to be people who are under the influence of Papanubandhipunya. There are people who appear in various disguises. They have one appearance for homes and another for the temple; one for the shop; and another for the Upashray. How many disguises do they put on within a day? You have to commit sins; and after committing them, do you experience sorrow? Do you experience sorrow after committing sins ? Those who are under the influence of Papanubandhipunya, do not experience sorrow thus. They feel happy at the time of committing sins and they also feel happy after committing sins.
You should have compassion for such people. “These poor jivas commit sins in their ignorance and infatuation. They will be ruined and they will experience great anguish". You must think thus. "Though it means some sacrifice on my part, I will prevent them from committing sins. I will save them from sins. Even if I have to experience some difficulties on account of it, I will bear with them. But I will save them". You must think thus.
EVEN CRITICISM CAN BECOME WHOLESOME
If there are people who do not do deeds of charity even if they are wealthy; who do not perform austerities even if they are healthy; who do not go to the temple and do not do some philanthropic work even though they have leisure; who do not
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
