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THE WAY OF LIFE
with serenity and felicity? Since their lives are completely divorced from spiritual austerities, they cannot experience peace and felicity in their lives. They cannot be wholesome and principled and systematic even in their day-to-day activities.
THE ROOTS OF EVIL ACTIONS GO DEEPER AND DEEPER
Yesterday, I exhorted you not to allow three evils to enter your lives. You should not be illegal and immoral in your actions; you should not gamble; and you should not develop illicit intimacy with other women. Today, I have to dwell on the remaining two evils. I have to dwell, at length, on the subjects of meat-eating and wine-drinking. Our Jain society, it is believed, has renounced meat-eating and wine-drinking, therefore, preaching to you not to eat meat and not to drink liquors may not be necessary or important, but for the past twenty five years, these two evils have been spreading even among Jains. Therefore, it is necessary to speak about these two evils.
Especially, these people who are affluent, and who accompany non-Jain friends to clubs, restaurants and hotels have begun eating meat and drinking wine. Those who visit foreign countries also begin eating meat and drinking wine. Those youngsters, both girls and boys, who go to colleges and who stay in hostels have begun eating meat and drinking wine to be considered "Ultra-modern". Some have begun eating meat and drinking wine with the fond and illusory hope of acquiring strength; and of drowning their sorrows and miseries.
THE GOVERNMENT POLICY ENCOURAGES THESE EVILS
Now-a-days, the government of India also has been encouraging these evils. It is encouraging people to eat meat; and has been providing facilities to people to drink liquors.
From the Audience: Why do the leaders of the country do so ?
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