Bondage and Freedom

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

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And the wise must be such as would help us in expanding our knowledge, in purifying and enlightening our minds; such as would diagnose all that is bad in our minds and suggest operating upon them and removing them ruthlessly from our minds, as a surgeon would remove a dreadful cancer.
You might say, "Do not cut off this or that part of my body, it is a part of me.” But he will reply, "It does not matter; it might be a part of your body, but it is damaging the whole of your system. So it must be operated upon and removed." The appendix is a part of the intestines, but when you get appendicitis, that portion of your intestines is removed by an operation. In the same way, whether corruption has entered your mind from the outside or by some harmful habit, or by contact with someone, or has set in somehow, it must be cast out ruthlessly.
That is the reason why great men have said that in order to keep the mind, the centre, clean and pure, we must associate with those who are pure in thought, word and deed.
Once a sage said to a very worldly-minded man, "You spend twenty-four hours in eating, drinking, sleeping and amusing yourself, but at least spare an hour to spend in the company of saintly persons." The man then said, "I have no time to spare. I have to attend to business meetings, conferences. I have to go here, there and everywhere and have no time
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