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DISCOURSE 58.
upashrayas and temples wearing such dress as they wear when they go to cinemas and hotels.
Do you think about all this or not ? Now-a-days, the limits tre crossed. Girls wear the dress of boys. They wear pants and shirts. It is a good fortune that boys have not yet begun to wear frocks and miniskirts. The hair of young men has assumed wonderful shapes like the hair-styles of women. :.
I make a strong appeal to you to conform to the norms of dharma in this respect when you come to temples and Upashrayas. Here we have not arranged any fashion-show. Our dharma exorts us to renounce worldly life. It preaches the principles of simplicity, austerity and humility. It inspires in us the virtues of politeness and discretion.
The revered Acharyas of the Jain societies must think seriously about this matter and must give the society proper guidance. The trustees of temples and upashrayas also have to think seriously about this matter. Otherwise, the indecent and disgusting dress and decorations will bring about evil consequences.
ACT IN SUCH A WAY THAT THERE IS NO MALICE
The twelfth ordinary principle of the Grihasthadharma is co live according to the noble and established national or regional traditions. But now in our country there are no widespread noble traditions. There are only widespread ignoble traditions. When that is the situason what traditions shall I recommend to you:
The purpose of wearing dress and decorations in accordance with the national and regional traditions is that people should live in amity, concordance and cordiality. If a man does not observe those traditions the society will become hostile towards him. This hostility impedes his spiritual endeavours; therefore is said that conformity to traditions is a dharma.
Keep ihe purpose in your mind. You should not do any. thing that antogonises the people among whom you live. You
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