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THE WAY OF LIFE
tutes. There were such men in the past; and there are such men at present. This is Samsar ! and it abounds in countless evils, aberrations and contradictions. You like the Samsar; do you not ? Do you think seriously about this or not? Why did the Paramatma, the Vitarag; and the omniscient consider Samsar something totally fit to be renounced? Why did he preach the Charitradharma ? or the Sadhu Dharma? I would not have exhorted you to seek salvation if the Samsar was not so full of contradictions, derogations and aberrations. There is only one state which is absolutely free from all contradictions and evils; and that is the state of salvation,
The right vision, the right knowledge and the right conduct constitute the path of Moksha. If you want to pursue that path, you must have lofty emotions in your heart. In case you do not have the capacity to pursue this path now; and if you have to remain in Samsar, at least, do not become entangled in the confusing snares of Samsar. If you have to marry, marry after careful thinking. In case you happen to marry an unworthy or a disparate person in ignorance, you must try to reform that person and make him or her suitable to be your partner. If you cannot make that person worthy of being your partner, then you come to us! THE PARITY OF PREFERENCES
It is absolutely necessary that there should be the parity of preferences or tastes between the bride and the bride-groom. What the husband likes or dislikes must be the same as what the wife likes or dislikes. Their life will be peaceful and happy if there is such a parity of preferences between them. A disparity in perferences will bring about much unhappiness. The husband likes to see movies; but the wife despises movies. The husband likes to stroll about in a park but the wife does not like it. The husband likes to go on a pilgrimage; but the wife likes to go on a pleasure-trip to Kashmir. If such disparities appear in their likes and dislikes, then you see the fun! You see what dramatic scenes get enacted in their lives. Each will try to impose his or her preferences on the other; and there will be quarrels and misunderstandings between them! The vicious
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