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342
MOKSHA MARG PRAKASHAK
which is not at all possible in lower stages is done only due to pressure of passional feelings. For example, If someone who indulges in seven bad habits, renounces cohabitation with his wife then how is this justifiable? Although renouncing one's wife is a religious act, nevertheless, first of all, seven bad habits are to be given up, then only renouncing of one's wife is desirable. Similarly, one should know about other things.
Further, some Jiva who has not acquired the knowledge of religious conduct from all angles, lays more emphasis on some (particular) religious rites while ignores other rites. For example, many Jivas while emphasising benevolence towards living beings, propagate refutation of other religious activities like worshipping, glorification, etc. Many others while emphasising religious acts like worshipping, glorification, etc., do not bother about activites involving injury, etc. Many people while emphasising penances (Tapa) observe fast, etc. even in the state of painful meditation and, considering themselves to be ascetics (Tapaswi), indulge in angarpassion, etc. undauntedly. Many others laying emphasis on charity, give donation even by earning wealth through indulgence in sinful activities. Many persons laying emphasis on renunciation of household activities, indulge in begging, etc. - in many such ways these people indulge in sinful acts by emphasising some aspect of religion while totally neglecting the other aspects of religious activities.
All the aforesaid activities of such persons are similar to that of an unjudicious trader who gets more loss in many ways through some business activity which he adopts for the sake of profit. The object of a businessman being earning of profit, what is desirable is that after considering all aspects he should act in such a manner which results in more profit. Similarly, the object of a true believer is evolution of passionlessness; therefore, after considering all aspects he should act in a manner which results in a greater degree of passionlessness; because the basic religion is passionlessness (Veetaragabhava).
1.
Pt. Todarmalji wanted to give here more details of bathing, etc. Shauch Dharma and people engaging themselves in temporal acts by quitting religious practices. This is written in the margin column of his manuscript.
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