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Chapter Kindness
As it is necessary to climb over the steps to reach a summit, so is it necessary to cultivate required attributes in order to climb over the summit of religion. These attributes are not hard to attain. It is therefore easy to rise on the ladder of religion. Those, who consider it hard, have not understood the nature of religion. We should consider ourselves as pilgrims of religious summit and should be keen to reach it. As we go up step by step, we would experience an increasing level of peace.
Every step on this journey has its own importance. It is therefore necessary to look back from time to time in order to make sure that the progress made during the journey is maintained. That is called Swadhyay, which becomes helpful in making sure that we are on solid ground. Looking back here is identical to a patient's continuing to take medication while he is getting cured. In this journey we have so far dealt with four attributes, viz. serenity, well-built body, soothing disposition, and popularity. Now we are taking up the next attribute of kindness.
Kindness denotes the absence of harshness and cruelty. There are people who become jealous on seeing the happiness of others. That indicates their harshness. He, who is harsh at heart, can resort to greater violence than a wild animal. Moreover, he is bound to be
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