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THE WAY OF LIFE
kraman, the devotees came; and sat near the Muniraj; and said : "It seems some guests came here this afternoon? ....
“Yes. One was my mother; and the other was my sister”.
They felt non-plussed; and began glancing at one another's faces. Such are devotees ! Now-a-days, it has become a habit among devotees to pick holes thus. Those who calumniate their parents will not hesitate to calumniate their spiritual heads. :) . From the Audience : Those who worship the Lord according to the scriptural prescriptions; and who perform such austerities as Samayik should not commit sins like calumniating others. Is that not so ?
Maharajashri: If those who carry out such austerities as worshipping the Jin, calumniate others, it must be known that they do not know the Dharmatatvas (the doctrines of Dharma). Those who practise the special principles, ignoring the ordinary principles, ignoring the Dharmatatvas do not attain any glory. Their spiritual austerities only serve to make them proud and haughty. Those who calumniate spiritual heads; who listen to the calumniation of spiritual heads and who encourage others to calumniate spiritual heads gather sinful Karmas. Those who calumniate spiritual heads and others in an interesting manner get encouragement from listeners. They think : "What we say is true. We must make public the evil qualities of such men so that others may not fall into their deceptive snares". This kind of thinking is illusory. It is self-deception. The avowed motive of saving others from deception is but a pretence. The real motive is to cause the fall of others. The real motive may be to take revenge against their victims.
THE TENDENCY TO SEE DEFECTS IN OTHERS IMPEDES SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES
I have come across some Sadhus who calumniate their Gurudev, their fellow-mendicants, and their own benefactors. You may be surprised to hear that Sadhus also indulge in calumniation. Yes, there are some who put on the dress of Sadhus and call themselves Sadhus; and commit sins like calum
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