________________
Chapter Popularity
Popularity is the next attribute required for leading a religious life. Everyone likes to gain popularity. That inclination is inherent even in a child. The question would therefore arise as to why everyone does not gain it. The reply is simple; we do not know how to be popular. There are rules for gaining anything. If a patient wants to regain health, he needs to take appropriate medication and resort to the dietary restrictions. Similarly for gaining popularity one has to avoid criticizing others. Those, who are habituated to criticize, are bound to find faults of others and that is going to lead to unpopularity.
We should therefore form the habit of not criticizing others and particularly the virtuous ones. Major vices are, of course, unpardonable; but when the faults are minor, we should be willing to condone them. It is also possible that one's circumstances may be responsible for his drawbacks. It would therefore be injustic criticize him without considering his circumstances. It should be remembered that no one is perfect and that it is highly sinful to criticize others in their absence.
If we notice someone's fault, there is nothing wrong in pointing it out gently; but we should never run him down. Everyone has the sense of self-respect; no one likes to be ridiculed or denounced. Take the instance of performing a religious ritual. If one is seen performing
De
40
