Way of Life Part 2

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

Page 34

THE WAY OF LIFE
THE NEED FOR A CHANGE IN YOUR OBJECTIVES IN CARRYING OUT SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES AND IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR PURSUITS
Therefore, I say that if you should become a noble, householder, first of all you must change your view and direction of the four objectives. Arthapurushartha, the objective of earning money is of the utmost importance. Without money you cannot achieve the objective of fulfilling your desires or Kamapurushartha. Without money, you cannot get sensual pleasures. Without money, you cannot get a house, a wife, a car, honour etc. Without money, you cannot get the means for the enjoyment of physical delights. Can you concentrate on Dharma firmly and carry out spiritual activities with your mind and body, without the necessary money and necessary means of physical enjoyments ? Can you get opportunities to go to religious places ? Just as provoked senses do not allow you to concentrate on spiritual activities, even discontented senses do not allow you to concentrate on religious austerities. They impede your faith in Dharma; and your spiritual austerities. Yes, there is the need for discretion and a limit to your attempts to appease and satisfy your senses. The senses that are satisfied thus in conformity with discretion and certain limits can assist you in the performance of your spiritual austerities. Spiritual austerities can become the means for the attainment of Moksha only when your mind and senses are deeply immersed in them; and only then can the jivatma achieve progress on its way to salvation.
You should not earn money merely to become affluent and to enjoy physical and sensual pleasures, and to commit sins openly or covertly. Your view must not be merely to enjoy pleasures; your view must be to perform spiritual austerities. Your view must be spiritual; not materialistic. You must have yogadrishti or a spiritual view. If your view is pure and lofty; if it is spiritual, then even your Arthpurushartha, the monetary objective becomes Dharmapurushartha or the spiritual objective. If your view is impure; and if it is materialistic, then if you perform spiritual activities, they will not be truly spiritual austerities.