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DELIGHT IN THE VIRTUES
already acquired earlier. The Sadhaka, who follows this scrupulously himself becomes a great saint through the vast accumulation of many sublime virtues.
LIVING EXAMPLE OF DELIGHT AT VIRTUES Over a hundred years ago in the year 1883 when Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a great torch-bearer of Indian culture died. Efforts were made therefore, by his devotees to prepare a fine biography of Swamiji.
One devotee of Swamiji very humbly approached a great scholar disciple and said, “You are a great scholar, you know Swamiji's doctrines so well. You are thoroughly acquainted with his life. Please write a biography of Swamiji. It will be a permanent memorial to Swamiji and will inspire future generations to a higher and nobler life."
The scholar-disciple replied, "Well, friend, the work has already begun and will end at the proper time."
The devotee replied, "We are very grateful to you. Kindly set aside all other works and complete this work as early as possible."
The schotar-disciple said, "Well brother, our viewpoints are diametrically opposed. The biography on Swamiji is a living one. I am writing it with every moment of my life by adopting his qualities. That is how I am writing his biography. For that itself, great effort, an awakened self and renunciation are necessary. It would take a long time and I would not feel satisfied simply by writing about his life on paper. Just a parrot-like description of his virtues can surely not create a real memorial to Swamiji."
At this time we should follow his principles and live our lives the way he did, and that way we will be able to continue his work.
GUNA-PRAMODA
181
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