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"Seeing weaknesses in others, we become critical and antagonistic. We judge. What do we get in compensation? Pain, alienation. When you judge others, you move away from people instead of getting closer to them and understanding them. We have no right to go into somebody's life and find fault. We may say, 'This person is not living up to my standards,' but who knows? That person may grow from that way. There are people who grow through pain and suffering; that becomes their course. Then they receive a jolt and that changes their life and they find the real path.”
Saint and Outlaw
Once Gurudev halted his vihār in Dasada in the state of Gujarat. The town and nearby areas were often terrorized by thieves when they were bored with their jungle hideouts and were looking for something to do.
One evening Gurudev addressed a gathering of people out of doors. There was a deafening sound of horse's hooves and from out of nowhere the ringleader of one gang of thieves galloped into sight. He stopped short in the cloud of his own dust and listened for a few minutes. Then in a flash he was gone! Before jumping onto his fiery horse, he uttered a loud imprecation disrupting the meeting and striking terror into the hearts of the villagers.
The simple townspeople trembled with fright. They could not tear their eyes from the rider. Jewo Reval was his name and his formidable figure seemed to threaten their very existence. Gurudev's strong and cheery voice and unperturbed manner soon cleared the air and brought them back to themselves. The meeting continued in peace.
Early the next morning Gurudev was out walking through the wooded hills surrounding the village. It was a glorious morning. Birds' chirpings rippled through the crisp air and
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