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256
THE WAY OF LIFE
DISCARDING IS PAINFUL
Do you know how impure the ground of your soul is ? How uneven and rough? You will know this if you carefully scrutinize your soul. But first of all do you entertain the aspiration of elevating your soul to the level of the Supreme Soul? "I must attain the state of the Supreme Soul or the Paramatma; I must purify my impure soul; therefore in this life itself, I must make the necessary endeavours". Have you made this determination? You must recognise this vital point as a certainty. Happiness cannot be attained without purity. Perplexity dwells in impurity while felicity dwells in purity. You have to accept this principle. Of course, you have to bear with some difficulties that arise when you endeavour to transform your impure soul into a pure soul. In the same manner, impurities cannot be dispelled without the performance of austerities and the attainment of true knowledge. This fills man with fear. In order to eradicate impurities, it is necessary to bear with the difficulties involved in performing spiritual activities and making sacrifices, but man fears this. It is an acceptance to bear with the sorrows arising from impurities. It is also an acceptance to bear with the difficulties that arise from the endeavour to attain purification.
In order to pursue the path of purification we have to discard something external and something internal. Man experiences pain and sorrow in discarding the things that are clinging to him. There is pain in discarding the things relating to one's external life. There is also pain in discarding the things relating to one's internal life; therefore, today, man is in search of that kind of dharma which does not require the renunciation of anything. People do not want to discard the things that are clinging to them and yet they should get salvation. Some clever people make a "Business" of this propensity. They spread deceptive snares under the name of Dharma in order to ensnare those that fear sorrows. They say, "You need not renounce your house and family. You need not renounce your business or occupation. You need not renounce sensual pleasures and worldly enjoyments; you need not renounce the inner passions like attachments and hatred; you need not discard your desires; come!
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