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316
THE WAY OF LIFE
great man, we will never commit a theft again; you have saved our lives by your grace; we will never forget your benefaction. You have pardoned our dreadful crime. You are indeed a god!”
Even the king was deeply moved by Suvrat's compassion. His spiritual excellence shone with the radiance of a million suns. All those in the city who heard about Suvrat's benevolence and compassion developed the highest regard for him. A compassionate man establishes dharma in the hearts of others thus. The noble contemplation (Prabhavana) is carried out only by men of compassion. He who has dharma within himself can bestow it on others also. Dharma is nothing but a compassionate heart. There can be no dharma in a heart which is devoid of amity, compassion etc. and in such a heart, how can there be an exalted spiritual contemplation? How can such a man bestow dharma on others ?
Suvrat's observation of the austerity of Ekadashi was dharma, because it was carried out in conformity with the commandments of the Jin and in accordance with the scriptural prescriptions. Ekadashi vrat means carrying out the austerities of fasting and Paushad on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight (shukla) for eleven years. The austerities are carried out in silence. Moreover, it was sanctified by such sublime virtues as amity and compassion. Only this kind of austerity is called dharma. Understand the definition of dharma thoroughly. That is why I have given an elaborate explanation.. Now-a-days, there are many arbitrary definitions of dharma. Many hypocrites keep talking about dharma in order to attain their selfish ends. Of course, this kind of hypocrisy is not found only in the present age. It has been there for thousands of years. Therefore, you have to be extremely alert and careful. Whenever you hear anyone talk of dharma, you must think thus. "This austerity does not go against the commandments of the Jin. Is it in accordance with the scriptural prescriptions? Is it prompted by amity, etc. ?”
Here, I have discussed the emotions of amity and compassion. Later, we shall discuss the qualities of Pramod (love) and neutrality.
This is enough for today.
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