Way of Life Part 1

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

Page 68

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THE WAY OF LIFE
bazaar in the noon, you will get a lot of money. “This morning I gave some gift to somebody; and I will surely get a fortune to-day”. You may think thus. One may think thus : "To-day I performed Ayambil; or I fasted; so to-day, I will be engaged to a beautiful girl". Another may think, "To-day, I took the Vows of Anuvrat and Barahvrata; so to-day, I will go to heaven". Do you think this? “I was initiated to-day, into Charitra Dharma (initiation into the life of a Sadhu); and to-day I will attain Moksha.” Are you mad? "By means of Dharma, Moksha can be attained.” Do you know the secret of this process? "By means of Dharma we can attain heaven". Have you realized the secret of this profound statement? The statements of sages are always profound in their meaning. You cannot understand them by merely taking the literal sense of those statements. You must ponder deeply over the real meaning of those words.
Of course, you are in a haste to attain happiness. Is it not true that you like those means by which you can attain immediate happiness? Which doctor do you like? "Give any medicine. My disease must be cured immediately". Do you not say that to a doctor? Whatever may be the reaction, what you need and desire is an immediate cure. Is that not so? You desire an immediate deliverance from sorrows; is it not so ? Supposing you can get the happiness you desire by uttering a lie; not by speaking the truth. Then, you would utter a lie. Would you not ? Suppose you cannot get much profit by carrying on a business honestly and with moral uprightness; but you can get much profit and can become a millionaire overnight by dishonest and immoral means; what would you do? You would take recourse to immoral and dishonest means; because you desire to be a wealthy man overnight. You desire to acquire wealth overnight; you desire to attain materialistic pleasure overnight; you desire to attain heaven overnight; and you desire deliverance also overnight. I think you do not have the same eagerness for Moksha".
Dharma can give all these kinds of happiness; but the procedure of Dharma is a long one. It is necessary to follow a long process. Whatever happiness you have now, it is the fruit of Dharma only. You are proceeding through a long pro