Way of Life Part 2

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

Page 15

DISCOURSE 25
great but in order to live the life of a Sadhu one must possess extraordinary physical and mental potentialities. There is the need for physical capacity to endure the difficulties relating to such a life; and the mind of a Sadhu must have the trem - firmness that is necessary to live according to the great vows he takes.
EXTRAORDINARY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CAPACITY IS NECESSARY TO LIVE THE LIFE OF A SADHU
If we think of them from the point of view of efficacy, we find that the Sadhudharma is far more efficacious than the Grihastadharma. From the point of view of gathering merit and of destroying Karmas, the life of a Sadhu is ideal. Even from the point of view of internal serenity, the life of a Sadhu is of greater efficacy. The Sadhudharma is the best even from the point of view of the development of the qualities of the soul. But extraordinary physical and mental abilities are essential in order to receive initiation into the Sadhudharma and to carry out the various austerities and vows of that life. The Grihastadharma, of course, is efficacious but that life is such that in it one keeps committing sins with body, mind and word. Certain sinful actions are inevitable in the life of a grihasta (a householder). In that life, certain sins have to be committed. This causes a great loss, in the life of a grihasta; one man earns an income of one hundred rupees every day in his shop, but he has to spend some sixty or seventy rupees a day. What remains is about thirty or forty rupees. Another man earns every day, an income of one hundred rupees; but has to spend only ten or fifteen rupees a day. What is the profit? The life of a Sadhu is thus beneficial. In the life of a Sadhu, the loss caused by sins is almost nothing. But in the life of a grihasta, the loss caused by sins is too large. Sometimes, sins are heavier than Dharma. Sins are not subtracted from Dharma; but Dharma is subtracted from sins; and the remainder is sin. ADMIRE AND CHOOSE THE SADHUDHARMA
Yet, it is possible to carry out Dharma in the life of a householder. It is possible to carry it out very well. If a man is