Way of Life Part 2

SR No.: 006514
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 362
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Religion
File Size: 18 MB

Page 125

DISCOURSE 32
inner enemies are Jains. I think you are endeavouring to achieve a victory over attachments and hatred.
DO NOT BRING DISGRACE TO JAINATVA (THE STATE OF BEING A JAIN)
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You should not have so much greed for wealth and prosperity that in order to acquire it, you feel impelled to take recourse to unethical ways such as deception and hypocrisy. You should not have so much attachment for wealth. There should not be any immorality or unlawfulness in your nature. "I am a Jain. I am a follower of the Jineshwar Paramatma. I cannot employ illegal and immoral methods to earn money under any circumstances. If I employ such methods, my Dharma will be stained. On account of me, my Dharma, will be condemned and criticised". Do you think thus ?
Sometimes, I meet people who condemn those who go to the temple; who visit sadhus and saints; who carry out some spiritual austerities, yet who employ unethical methods to earn money. People do not like them. People do not like their austerities. Sometimes they say this, "We are better than those people, who perform spiritual austerities though we do not go to the temples or Upashrayas and though we do not perform any spiritual austerity."
DHARMA IS DISGRACED BY DECEPTION
Some people say, "These fellows make a pretence of being devotees of the Paramatma and the Gurumaharaj, so that they may be trusted by people; so that people may believe them. Only if people believe these hypocritical men can they succeed in deceiving others". Even today people believe those who carry out spiritual austerities. "Brother, a person who can carry out so many austerities cannot be treacherous and deceptive. Such a man cannot deceive people". That is what people say about devotees. Of course, such plain and noble people are deceived. Yet, some confidence in people continues. If those who practise spiritual austerities do not give up their unethical ways, even the little confidence they enjoy will be lost. People will have no respect for devotees afterwards.