Way of Life Part 1

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

Page 89

DISCOURSE 5
of the form or the efficacy of Dharma. Not only the madness caused by drinking liquors, there are many other kinds of madness, such as madness for wealth, madness caused by strength, madness caused by caste, madness caused by physical beauty, madness caused by the pride of knowledge and intelligence etc. Thus, there are many kinds of madness. Yes, such people come to religious centres too. They come not to listen to discourses or to perform any spiritual activity but to show off their affluence, or to show off their beauty or handsomeness or to make others believe that they are pious and devout.
Lunacy impedes the growth of knowledge. It impedes the understanding of spiritual doctrines. If there is any kind of madness in the mind of a man, he cannot, in any true sense, carry out the principles of Dharma. You see how even in religious centres the exhibition of affluence and physical appearance has increased. The younger generation is mad after beauty; and you of the older generation are mad after money. What kind of dress do you wear when you come to religious centres? Have you any regard for decency or dignity? Do you have any awareness of what you are doing? Is there any tone in a stone ? There is no sense in crazy zeal. People have been imitating film-actors and actresses. People come to religious centres wearing fine apparel, with fine make-ups and hairstyles as if to attend and participate in a programme of beautycompetition or a fashion-show. And I have to preach to such people ! I have to explain to them the lofty doctrines of Dharma. Can such people really understand anything of dharma ? You come to religious centres and to temples in such apparel and with such decorations as you would use when you go to attend a marriage or to have a walk in a garden. Is it proper ? Is it in accordance with dharma? But madness of all kinds has pervaded life.
Those who have acquired knowledge also are mad about their knowledge. "I know everything! I have heard thousands of discourses". Even this madness is dangerous. This pride shuts the doors of true knowledge. Self-complacency is the enemy of progress. On account of that pride, no new knowledge can be attained. The knowledge that has been gained