________________
THE WAY OF LIFE
time remains every day in which you can carry out spiritual austerities and in which you can engage yourselves in a contemplation relating to spiritual elevation ?
Is there a conformity to the limits and to the limits of excellence and to the principles of discretion in all the propensities of a grihastha ? Do the propensities and actions of a grihastha conform to the guidance given by enlightened people ? No. The dominance of attachments, hatred and infatuation annuls your sense and discretion, and impels you to transgress the limits of ethical excellence. The attachment for physical and sensual pleasures and the fear and hatred of sorrows torments you always and renders you stupid and senseless. How can you perform spiritual activities and attain spiritual purification in such a condition ?
Of course, the Tirthankar Paramatma, the treasure-house of Supreme compassion has been graceful enough to describe one kind of Dharma for the grihasthas also. Some ordinary and special kinds of spiritual austerities have been described for the sake of householders both men and women but you have to give a place to them in your life. In the life in which attachments, hatred and infatuation, are dominant peace and wholesomeness do not exist; and without mental peace and wholesomeness spiritual austerities cannot be carried out. It is f this reason that I say that the life of a sadhu is the proper one in which spiritual austerities can be carried out perfectly. There are no mundane affairs or concerns of samsar in the life of sadhus.
THE LIFE OF A SADHU IS TRULY FREE FROM ALL WORRIES
In the life of a sadhu, one does not have the worry of building a house or the worry of a house falling to the ground. In that kind of life, one does not worry about earning money and one does not worry thinking that he would lose money. One does not have worries relating to one's wife and children or friends and relatives. It is a life that is completely free from all worries and agitations. In that life, there are no mundane
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
