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FROM IIM-AHMEDABAD TO HAPPINESS
shop till gradually the premises are vacated and shutters put up. Just as a businessman must give his best product to the customers, and an employee must put in his best efforts to be able to survive and grow; similarly one must radiate virtues of love, compassion, truthfulness, humility, tolerance, and the like, in full measure to be able to bring to fruition one's inner strengths and glow. The understanding of this basic truth is sufficient to appreciate the wisdom underlying the saying: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
The Saviour's teaching about meeting evil with good, anger with kindness, and persecution with prayer for the welfare of the persecutor, is perfectly in accord with the scientific truths about the hygiene of life and attainment of the beatific condition called bliss.
Right attitude towards others has been beautifully summed up in the following scriptural direction:
मैत्रीप्रमोदकारुण्यमाध्यस्थानि च सत्त्वगु धिकक्लिश्यमानाविनयेषु ॥
– Āchārya Umāswami, Tattvārthādhigama Sutra
Benevolence towards all living beings, joy at the sight of the virtuous, compassion and sympathy for the afflicted, and tolerance towards the insolent and ill-behaved.
The desire that others should be free from suffering and pain is benevolence. Benevolence must be directed towards all living beings. Fervent affection as well as veneration in the presence of the virtuous is joy. The virtuous are those in whom knowledge and virtues abound. The disposition to render assistance to the afflicted is compassion. The afflicted are those who suffer from anguish and distress. Tolerance, that is, unconcern, is freedom from attachment and repulsion based on desire and aversion. The
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