Way of Life Part 2

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

Page 33

DISCOURSE 26
which you earn money. Remember that you are a grihastha not a sadhu and what I say here is applicable to a grihastha, not to a sadhu. If your purpose in earning money is not confined only to pleasures and enjoyments; if you are acquiring wealth as a means to perform Dharma; if your view is to improve the conditions of those who are in distress and who are indigent, by helping them; if your spiritual austerities and those of the members of your family are going unimpeded; if that is your aim and if you are acquiring wealth in conformity with the four principles mentioned above, then whatever occupation you are following is Dharma. If your main objective in life is to attain Dharma and if you acquire wealth as a means to attain Dharma, then that endeavour is a spiritual endeavour. How can a householder support himself and the members of his family if he does not use his occupation or business as a means to earn money. If he is good for nothing and if he does not make endeavours to earn money, then his family-life would be unhappy. He will have no house to live in; he will have no food to eat and no clothes to wear. How can such a man carry out spiritual austerities ?
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From the Audience: In our endeavours to earn money, we have to commit some sin or the other. Another point is this. In earning money, we have to commit the sin of Parigraha (attachment) yet how can it be Dharma?
Maharajashri : You are right. This samsar itself is sinful. Renounce samsar or worldly life and become a sadhu. A sadhu need not commit any sin. Do you fear sins? You want to live in samsar; you want to enjoy the pleasures of the mundane life and if you do not do some work; how will you live? Are you going to take recourse to beggary? A noble householder never wanders about as a beggar. He will carry on some useful and proper occupation. He will carry on some lawful and unobjectionable occupation. He will carry on his life feeling happy and contented with whatever income he gets from pursuing such an occupation. If a householder does not pursue some occupation to earn money, his entire life will be upset. All his spiritual activities also will come to an end.