Way of Life Part 3

SR No.: 006515
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 348
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Religion
File Size: 18 MB

Page 177

DISCOURSE 60
165
niation. It is a trick adopted by them to belittle others and to show that they are great. Those who calumniate others try to show themselves to be superior to others. Fools believe that calumniators are good people. That is why they get encouragement to carry on calumniation. One thing must be realized. Calumniation cannot exist without the tendency to see defects in others. The tendency to see defects in others impedes not only your spiritual endeavours but also the activities of your worldly life. The habit of secing defects in others is a very ignoble one. This habit prevents a man from visualizing his inner self; and from contemplating on his soul. He spends his whole life seeing defects in others, in calumniating others, or in listening to calumny.
,
IF YOU WANT TO SEE....SEE MERITS
If you want to look at others, look at their merits. Every jiva has some merit. See merits in others; and if you keep praising them, you too will acquire those merits. If you see defects in others and if you keep condemning them you will sink into the rubbish heap of defects. Remember this vital truth. If you look at the defects of others; and if you condemn them, they will not lose anything but you may suffer a heavy loss. These two are the greatest losses you suffer :
(1) mental worry and agitation ; and (2) fear caused by the increase of enemies.
The fourteenth ordinary principle of the grihasthadharma is that you should discard the habit of calumniating others. To-day, we have discussed this principle in brief. The sinful propensity of calumniating others has spread everywhere. If you make a determination to keep yourself free from this sin; you will free yourself from it. My auspicious aspiration for you is that you should put forth your endeavours in this direction.
This is enough for to-day.