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ASPIRANT'S GUIDE
passions, no detachment in the life, and who is neither straightforward nor tolerant of afflictions.
2. The person endowed with virtues like broad-based vision, impartiality, straightforwardness and control over all senses, deserves most to realize the ultimate Truth.
3. All other virtues fail completely in a deceitful person. A person of straightforwardness therefore, excludes all deceitful acts from his life.
4. God will forgive all other vices but not that of deceit, especially when it is practiced in the name of religion or God.
5. So many great people practiced straight-forwardness through the medium of the company of children.
Shree Telang Swami had a cart in which he seated children while he drew it. He tried to study and acquire the simple and innocent temperament of children.
Gladstone, once the Prime Minister of Britain, played with children and shared innocent joy with them.
Lord Jesus Christ and great poet Nanalal have eulogized the simple nature of children.
The Bhaktisutra states that the best devotee is one like a
child.
Thus children have inspired many great men to acquire straightforwardness.
LIVING EXAMPLES OF STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS
(1) In Bombay, Shrimad Rajachandra and Mahatma Gandhi were once discussing compassion. They pondered over it and discussed whether or not any item made from leather should be used. It was resolved that in professional and industrial purposes, leather may be used, but not so in personal uses.
Gandhi inquired, "What is there in the cap that you have put on ?"
Rajachandraji did not have even the slightest idea that his cap had leather strip in it; he never checked for it.
Without argument, Shrimad Rajachandra removed the leather strip from his cap.
This speaks volumes for his preparedness to learn straightforwardness, even from small events of life.
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