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Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

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e. Now comes the time to renounce one's work. Whether<br />

it is the husb<strong>and</strong> or the wife who goes out to earn money,<br />

until now practicing only in spare time, it is proper now<br />

to give up one's job. Completely renounce one's family<br />

contacts <strong>and</strong> go away to live in solitude. If one wishes,<br />

<strong>and</strong> if this is possible, one may become a bhiksu (or<br />

bhiksuni) or else remain a lay-yogi (or yogini). At any<br />

rate, the outer renunciation to family, property, money,<br />

<strong>and</strong> such things must be comparatively complete. So far<br />

we have only dealt with the renunciation of outward<br />

things.<br />

f. Inwardly, it is now the right time to renounce many<br />

things: the desires for good, long sleep, desire for<br />

expensive <strong>and</strong> beautiful clothes, <strong>and</strong> for all other<br />

attractive <strong>and</strong> artistic objects.<br />

g. Secretly, renounce the signs which sometimes delude<br />

people into thinking that they are progressing in<br />

meditation. Renounce: lights (nimitta), the quietness of<br />

mind (false samatha of drowsiness), some joyful<br />

feelings (piti), <strong>and</strong> such experiences. Give up also views<br />

which are false because they are misleading.<br />

h. The fourth of these inward renunciations is the Most<br />

Secret. At this stage one should renounce: the<br />

supernormal powers, the Hinayana nirvana, the four<br />

virtues of nirvana (according to Mahaparinirvana Sutra:<br />

permanence, joy, self, <strong>and</strong> purity) until one succeeds in<br />

gaining the Non-abiding nirvana (see Ch. V, C, 6).<br />

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