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THE ART OF LIFE
29
From the Kutub Minar
Once while standing on the last tier of the Kutub Minarin Delhi, I heard the discordant sounds of men, motor-cars, tongas and many other things. But to me, from that height, they seemed to be humming into one long harmonioussong. This gave me a very deep philosophical thought. The higher an ascetic keeps himself above the ordinary material plane and the farther he keeps himself away from the world, the lesser will he feel the mental conflict, and deeper will he enjoy the peace and bliss of concentration and harmony. As we come down to the material plane, the differences and conflicts appear magnified, and the higher we rise, the differences vanish away.
The Blessings of Suffering
Why are you afraid of the strokes of misfortunes and sufferings ? Let them fall, let them fall with all their" force. The drum does not sound of itself. It sounds. when the strokes fall upon it. As soon as the striker falls upon the drum, it produces a deep solemn sound." that appeals to the ears far and wide. Similarly, if the drum of life is strong, the strokes of misfortune, however hard they may be, will produce a serene spiritual sound which wilis. resound all over the world.
Be Pure Gold
There is fear of fire to hay and straw. Just a spark of fire would burn them into ashes. But pure gold has no fear from fire. On the contrary, when heated in fire, it. shines all the more. Therefore man should make himself pure gold, not hay and straw. Then let there be any
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