When the light is absent and it is dark, we cannot see. Inner darkness cannot be perceived by one of the sense organs. The ancient sages have said, "Those who are indulging in false and immoral conduct spread darkness all over the earth. The darkness of immorality leads to various problems.” Immoral conduct and lies go together, mutual understanding and faith on values are the base of cooperation. A state can be called worthy only when it has sufficient food to pacify hunger, when it is able to create faith in mutual relations and when the citizens have equal rights. In absence of these three, faith cannot be developed and tension and confusion are met all over.
Considering the rules for Mahavrats, great vows for ascetics, and Anuvrats, small vows for lay followers, we find them both based on ethical values. However, in their context they are different. Mahavrats are absolute rules related to spirituality whereas Anuvrats are relative rules related to society. In spirituality, the individual is always alone and in connection with the inner self. In social life, the individual is related to other individuals needing trustworthy rules of conduct for cooperation. In this age of technology these are the means to remove inner darkness and to become a person with inner light to solve each and every problem coming up in life. The spreading of the inner light will bright up our surrounding.
Yuvacharya Mahashramanji recommended to nourish the consciousness by restraint, to control oneself and to develop a tolerating personality. A person with many needs can never be happy, whereas a man with balanced needs attains real happiness.