Sixteenth discourse
SPIRITUALITY AND MATERIALISM
* Spiritual disposition
The Blessed Lord said:
1.
Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and Yoga; alms-giving, self- restraint and worship, study of one's own (scriptures), austerity, uprightness;
2.
Harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, serenity, absence of calumny, compassion to creatures, uncovetousness, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness;
Moreover,
3.
Energy, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride; these belong to one born for a divine lot, O Bharata.
* Materialistic disposition
4.
Ostentation, arrogance and self-conceit, anger as also insolence, and ignorance, belong to one who is born, O Partha, for a demoniac lot.
* Results of the two dispositions
5.
The divine nature is deemed for liberation, the demoniac for bondage. Grieve not, O Pandava; thou art born for a divine lot.
* The materialists
6.
There are two creations of beings in this world, the divine and the demoniac. The divine has been described at length; hear from Me, O Partha, of the demoniac.
7.
Neither action nor inaction do the demoniac men know; neither purity nor good conduct nor truth is found in them.
* The materialist's view of the world
Moreover,
8.
They say, "the universe is unreal, without a basis, without a Lord, born of mutual union, brought about by lust; what else?
* Men's life as guided by materialism
9.
Holding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect, of fierce deeds, rise as the enemies of the world for its destruction.
10.
Filled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding unwholesome views through delusion, they work with unholy resolve;
11.
Beset with immense cares ending only with death, sensual enjoyment their highest aim, assured that that is all;
12.
Bound by hundreds of bands of hope, given over to lust and wrath, they strive to secure by unjust means hoards of wealth for sensual enjoyment.
* The materialist's aspirations
Their aspiration is expressed as follows:
13.
“This today has been gained by me; this desire I shall attain; this is mine, and this wealth also shall be mine in future.”
14.
“That enemy has been slain by me, and others also shall I slay. I am a lord, I enjoy, I am successful, strong and healthy.”
15.
“I am rich and well-born. Who else is equal to me? I will sacrifice, I will give, I will rejoice." Thus deluded by unwisdom,
16.
Bewildered by many a fancy, entangled in the snare of delusion, addicted to the gratification of lust, they fall into a foul hell.
* The materialist’s sacrificial rites
17.
Self-honored, stubborn, filled with the pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices in name with hypocrisy, without regard to ordinance.
* The materialist's neglect of Divine Commandments
18.
Given over to egotism, power, haughtiness, lust, and anger, these malicious people hate Me in their own and other's bodies.
* The materialist's fall
19.
These cruel haters, worst of men, I hurl these evil-doers for ever in the worlds into the wombs of the demons only.
20.
Entering into demoniac wombs, the deluded ones, in birth after birth, without ever reaching Me, O son of Kunti, pass into a condition still lower than that.
* The three Gates of Hell to be avoided
21.
Triple is this, the gate to hell, destructive of the self: LUST, WRATH, and GREED. Therefore, these three, one should abandon.
22.
A man who is released from these, the three gates to darkness, O son of Kunti, does good to the self, and thereby reaches the Supreme Goal.
* Let the Law guide thy life
23.
He, who, neglecting the scriptural ordinance, acts under the impulse of desire, attains not perfection, nor happiness, nor the Supreme Goal,
24.
Therefore, the scripture is thy authority in deciding as to what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Now, thou oughtest to know and perform thy duty laid down in the scripture-law.
END OF SIXTEENTH DISCOURSE
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