Way of Life Part 1

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

Page 90

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THE WAY OF LIFE
already will not be assimilated. Refrainment which is the fruit of knowledge in life does not appear in such people. Men keep drifting in life blinded by the pride of knowledge or self-complacency. The history of India itself illustrates the truth of this observation. Our ancestors attained the highest levels of excellence in literature, in philosophy, in aesthetics, in astronomy, in mathematics, and in several other spheres of knowledge but later owing to her self-complacency, India became steeped in a stupor of intellectual lassitude, spiritual lethargy and emotional apathy; but fortunately in India after every phase of degeneration there appears regeneration because our cultural roots are deep down in the very springs of eternal wisdom. So, first of all, you must realize the extent of your terrible ignorance, you must know the extent of your ignorance; and then you must endeavour to attain knowledge.
THE EFFICACY OF DHARMA
The efficacy of Dharma is being explained now. It is absolutely necessary to have a knowledge of this. There is a desire to know the true form of Dharma. But you cannot think of knowing the true form of Dharma until you understand the efficacy of Dharma. Therefore, the great author describes the efficacy of Dharma. Some people are interested only in the power of Dharma. They do not have a desire to know its real form. A child is made to drink milk. Children are informed about the usefulness of milk. We tell them that by drinking milk they can enjoy excellent health. Children are not interested in knowing the nature of milk. How do we get milk? How do cows and buffaloes give us milk? They eat grass; but they give us milk. How is it? What are the various ingredients of milk? All people do not possess the knowledge of the nature of milk. All those who drink milk do not have this knowledge of milk. They merely know that it is good for health. "Our health will be sound if we drink milk”: This knowledge is enough for them.
There are many things of this kind which are useful to us in our daily life. You use them many times but you do not have a knowledge of their nature. Think about the various