Way of Life Part 2

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

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THE WAY OF LIFE
characterised by non-refrainment; not in the life that is characterised by a total refrainment. The delights of the heavenly world are to be enjoyed. The punyakarma or merit gets exhausted by this kind of enjoyment. Again, they will be born as human beings. They will accept the Sadhudharma which is characterised by a total refrainment. They will proceed on the path of salvation destroying Karmas gradually. Therefore, you need not have any fear. You will not suffer any loss. If you choose the Sadhudharma, if you receive initiation into the Sadhudharma and if you go to the heavenly world after acquiring merit, even then the pilgrimage towards salvation continues. It will not cease. Now, you have to make a choice. You have to choose either the Sadhudharma or the Grihasthadharma. The author of the great grantha, the great sage, Haribhadrasoori has described two kinds of Dharma, which have been expounded by Tirthankars. You need not worry about this. Even if you prefer the Sadhudharma, I will not initiate you into the Sadhudharma at once, because it is now the rainy season and you know that according to the principles of our Dharma, deeksha cannot be accorded in the rainy season. Therefore you must make a choice with a free mind. You have to make this choice, on your own accord.
THAT WHICH IS GOOD IS LOVABLE
From the Audience: Of course, the life of a Sadhu appears excellent but the life of a grihastha is attractive and we like it. Though we realise that the life of a sadhu is excellent, we do not feel like loving it. The life of a grihastha is not good. It is sinful. Though we know all this, we feel drawn towards it.
Maharajashri There is a principle in psychology. We like a thing which we consider good but what you say contradicts this principle. You say that the life of a sadhu is excellent because you are now sitting before a sadhu and you are all devotees of sadhus. Therefore, you have to say that life of a sadhu is excellent or it is likely that when you think calmly about it you feel that the life of a sadhu is excellent but that you do not have the potentialities in you to live such a life. Even this happens. When you are caught in the meshes of the sorrows