From IIM Ahmedabad To Happiness

SR No.: 034444
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp Printers
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 128
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 2 MB

Page 120

FROM IIM-AHMEDABAD TO HAPPINESS
man is a good learner and, therefore, is liable to become adept in his chosen field in no time. Modesty gives rise to acceptance of the person by all, making him more effective in whatever he does.
The third kind of love is that of the God's devotee, which needs a little elaboration. The truth is that the nature of devotion has been entirely misunderstood by the generality of men, who, unable to form a rational conception of the kind of love implied in devotion, have been led to confound it with the mad impetuosity of sensuality. Some have even likened it to a moth's fatal attraction for light.
Love is an essential ingredient of devotion. Devotion is always founded on respect. It follows from this that neither the emotion of benevolence which is characteristic of love for an inferior, nor the impetuous ardour of a the hero of a love-tale can be the appropriate form of love for the true God, than whom no one has a better right to our respect. It is clear that no one ever dreams of loving his parents or tutor after a manner of a moth. The fact is that love is a motive power grounded on belief and manifests itself in appropriate, typical forms according to the nature of the relationship in which the object of love stands to him who loves. Thus, we offer devotion and worship to God, reverence to a tutor, friendship to our equals, and protection and patronage to them who are inferior to us. It is now clear that t true significance of love in reference to God really means a devotion to the attributes of divinity, which the devotee wishes to develop in his own soul, and consists in the blending of the fullest measure of love and respect for those who have evolved out those very attributes in perfection.
Love is an emotion, not an exchange of goods or bartering of property; it has nothing in common with the spirit of bargaining. A true lover, in extreme cases of love for God, cheerfully sacrifices everything for the object of his love, and would willingly give up
108