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THE ART OF POSITIVE THINKING
Likewise, discipline is a mighty stream. It is not standing rain-water which is essentially limited. You can draw from the pond only that water which is collected there; much of it evaporates and is lost. But a running spring sprouting from the earth runs for ever; it never dries up. You draw water from a well today, and the next day and the next. Just one well provides for the whole village, because it is an ever-running source. It is not the accumulation of rain-water. Similarly discipline flows in our life like an immortal current, a never-ending stream.
The master told the servant, "Listen! You're not to do anything without my permission." The servant said, "All right, master!" Something happened the very next day. The servant came running to the master and said, "Master! The cat is drinking the milk. What am I to do?" The master was exasperated, "Fool!" he said, "Why have you come to me? You should have driven away the animal." The servant said, "Well, Sir, didn't you tell me yesterday not to do anything without permission?"
Here is a case of limited water in the pond! Doing just what you are told! But discipline is a much larger matter. It is vitally connected with intelligence; it cannot be imposed from without; it prospers with the feeling of togetherness, the feeling of mutual cooperation and understanding.
The other day we were talking about freedom which is related to individual life just as dependence or slavery is related to social living. Both these words - freedom and dependence are used by us pretty often, we cherish them both. There is nothing wrong in being free; nor need being dependent' have any adverse connotation. We give great importance to freedom — it is considered to be something entirely good, whereas dependence has a pejorative ring since we often use the term as an opposite of freedom. But the meaning of each word is relative. Truth is relative; to be absolute is to falsify. For example, the white colour can be good as well as bad, depending on circumstances. Likewise, the blue colour. And who would say that the black is unconditionally bad? It is the right colour for winter. With the advent of winter, we find everyone clad in black, for it is well-known that the black has great capacity for absorption of heat and is therefore a good protector of skin in winter.
In courts of justice, the judges arc clad in black. The black is opaque to influence of any kind. In fact colours are symbols of feeling, conduct and character. The choice of the right colour is a serious matter, requiring discrimination. The black dress worn by the judges and the lawyers signifies impartiality. A judge must not take sides, nor be influenced by any person or thing; the atmosphere of the court room must be free from prejudice. If a judge were clad in red, he would not be disposed to listen to the lawyers; inflamed
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