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THE WAY OF LIFE
tural discourses. The desire to listen to scriptural discourses does not arise in the minds of men who are deeply interested in physical and material enjoyment and whose minds are paralysed by an obsession for amassing wealth. The minds of such people are interested in the attainment of Artha and Kama and in sensual enjoyments. They are always engrossed in increasing their beauty and physical comforts. Their minds are always concerned with the affairs relating to the acquisition of wealth. How can they desire to attain knowledge ?
Now-a-days, there is a decrease in the desire of people to acquire knowledge not only in the sphere of doctrines but also in the practical affairs of life. The desire for getting scriptural knowledge is present only in very few people.
The basic factor in the sphere of scriptural knowledge is the thirst for the knowledge of scriptural doctrines. People must have a desire to listen to discourses. They must have a desire to acquire the right knowledge regarding the soul, karma, the other world, the organisation of the universe, the theory of the original substance and its (Paryaya) modified forms, the doctrine of origin, existence and destruction and other such theories. Do people have this desire ? And if I start dwelling upon such doctrines in my discourses.... ?
From the Audience : We like discourses which are simple and which contain a number of interesting stories. Only very few people can understand and appreciate the discourses dealing with doctrines.
A FOREIGN SCHOLAR HAS WRITTEN A SCHOLARLY TREATISE ON THE 45 AGAMAS
Maharajashri : I am now speaking of the desire for scriptural knowledge. Do you have a desire for a knowledge of theories ? Those who have the thirst for knowledge, will certainly listen to discourses dealing with theories. If they do not understand those theories, they hear discourses again and again and they will make a whole-hearted attempt to understand them. When the desire to understand those theories that
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