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પ્રકરણુ, ]
SPIRITUAL LIGHT.
principal aim of bringing about Vairagya ( Spirit of renunciation), and therefore, in consequence with this aim, advocates the principle of Ahinsa and pious worship (Shloka 9th of this chapter). Of course, it is impossible that every one can turn out an ascetic as the world stands constituted. An absolute stagnation of worldly affairs is not meant, but a middle course for the trial of disattachment as far as practicable is intended. But at the same time it must be clearly understood that Moksha is not a forbidden fruit for laymen. It entirely depends on one's mental attitude. The busiest tradesman, the hard-toiling workman and an adroit statesman may become internally, but an indifferent looker on, doing his worldly, social and administrative duties. It is the state of his mind that brings on tranquillity and peace and advances him further on the path of spiritual progress, so the scriptures have ordained the practice of moral virtues in ordinary avocations of life and have condemned earnings and income with hands polluted by vicious habits as dishonesty, hypocrisy, fraud, &c.. The holy texts emphatically prescribed the observances of vows, pious reflections, austerities, regulations and rules to guide the followers to enable them to be blessed with spiritual elevation. Even the highest attainments in Science and miracles do not tend to spiritual progress.
In short, while material gain, worldly pleasures and social engagements occupy our attention, we
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