Way of Life Part 4

SR No.: 006516
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Religion
File Size: 17 MB

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THE WAY OF LIFE
SAFEGUARDING CHASTITY IS A GREAT DUTY
From the Audience : The queen deceived Chand Khan; did she not?
Maharajashri : It is not sinful to practise deception in order to safeguard one's chastity. In order to safeguard one's chastity it is not at all sinful to adopt deception, and pretension as a means.
From the Audience: It is a sin to lose one's chastity, no doubt; but is it not a sin to cause violence to a jiva and to kil! him ? The queen safeguarded her chastity but she killed a man; was it not a sin ?
Maharajashri : Both the actions are sinful. But of these two, losing one's chastity is a greater sin. Compared to the sin of losing one's chastity, the sin of causing violence to a jiva is a lesser sin. In order to avoid committing a greater sin, it becomes necessary to commit a lesser sin in such a situation. In order to safeguard the chastity of Sita, Sri Rama had to fight a war in which crores of people were killed. The ideal implied in that situation is that violence can be used in order to safeguard the chastity of a woman. If a woman has ability and strength she can safeguard her chastity even by killing those who try to rob her of her chastity. If she does not possess that strength, she can safeguard her chastity by committing suicide.
A noble action performed with a sense of the propriety of time brings extraordinary benefits. For instance, you are all shravaks and you render service to sadhus. Every day, you come to the Upashraya. You perform the pratikraman (the austerity of atonement for sins); then you render service to sadhus and you return home. When a sadhu is ill, you render service to him.
EVEN SERVICE SHOULD BE RENDERED WITH A SENSE OF PROPRIETY OF TIME
Once, the great Acharya, Aryasuhasthi initiated a beggar into the Sadhudharma. I have narrated that story to you already.