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DISCOURSE 21
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felicity'. You must entertain such desires. Do not blame a man who has a false vision, in such a way that you censure his virtues also. You will only ruin yourself, if you condemn virtues.
In praising or blaming others you must have this caution. Do you think of the virtues of the man whose vices you con
? Will you be cautious to see that virtues are not blamed? If you see at least, to a little extent, the virtues in others, your hatred for their vices will decrease and decline. But the tendency to see vices is so powerful that it does not allow you to see virtues. The method of appreciating virtues such as kindness, charity, benevolence, and the concern for the supreme good, which are present in people possessing a false vision, has been described even by Upadhyay Shri Yashovijayji :
"थोडलो पण गुण परतणो, तेह अनुमोदवा लाग रे " Wherever you sec virtues, praise them and appreciate them; in other words, feel happy at the sight of others' virtues. There may be virtues even in animals and birds. Some who have a special knowledge of those things, have described virtues in animals and birds also. The virtues of birds and animals are seen; not those of human beings. This is a misfortune; is it not? Some women who love dogs, hate their husbands; some men who love their horses, hate their wives. How strange are the ways of the people in this world !
Even after seeing the false vision of people who are blinded by that vice; and even after knowing their faulty and false beliefs; you should not hate such people. You must compassionately think of freeing them from their false vision. Discard the habit of blaming them throwing a veil of vices on their virtues. Will you discard that habit? Will you gave up the sin of seeing vices and sins in others? If you do not, you will suffer for it.
Upadhyay Shri Vinayvijayji also has expressed in his work, Shantisudharas an appreciation for the virtues of happiness and turthfulness present in those who possess a false vision.
The virtue of pursuing a path is present in those who possess a false vision. In the Jain dharma, Marganusarita or
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