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Chapter Following the Old Ones
We saw the importance of discretion in religious life. Such a person takes into consideration every situation, ponders over it and adopts what is worthwhile. For that purpose, he does not go by the criteria of old or new. He is willing to reject the old if worthless, and adopt the new if appropriate. A guinea, if noticed in the garbage, needs to be picked up.
Now let us turn to the next attribute of following the old and experienced ones. Those, who have seen the path, who have walked over it, can guide us; they can point out the dangers on the way. Their experience can help us in avoiding the perils and hazards. It is therefore said, “Mahäjano yen gattah sapanthähä' (The road by which the great men have passed through is the right one.)
The young people may, however, contend that they do not care for the old or their experience; they want to go their own ways and undergo good or bad experience. They can do so, but they need to keep in mind that it is not necessary to taste the poison in order to learn its property. We are aware of it from the experience of those, who had tried it. Moreover, the term 'old' does not relate here to time; experience and wisdom gained thereby are the main criteria.
A merchant once went to a royal court. The king asked him about his age, property etc. The man replied that he was ten years old and
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