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FROM IIM-AHMEDABAD TO HAPPINESS
the masses in certain areas. But we must not lose sight of the distinction between social and individual interests, nor confound individual happiness with computers, information technology, and biotechnology. National growth will not take its inhabitants into paradise in a body, for its doors are open only for individuals, not for races. Moreover renunciation involves giving up, rather than accumulating or hoarding, of material things.
The arrows of adversity do not penetrate the man of renunciation for he has nothing to grieve for, but they pierce to the core the man of the world, because of his self-centeredness. Virtue is life, and, as such, is truly its own reward. The righteous are ever tranquil and they deviate, in the least, from the strict path of truth and rectitude. Cheerfully do they welcome adversity when it comes.
The notion of superiority over other fellow beings is a cause of much harm to our own system. Let us not forget that the notion of superiority is a form of emotion of hatred, and a piece of hateful falsehood, whether it be of one's physical, mental or moral attainments. By a domineering, supercilious demeanour, all that one can expect to gain is a temporary sense of greatness over certain members of our race, but surely it can mean pleasure only to a degraded intellect. There are others who are superior to us and who can treat us in the same manner. We must recognise that the temporary sense of triumph, or superiority, over one's subordinates is no compensation for the poison wrought in our own system. Real superiority lies in one's understanding of the things, but in that case, it takes the form of humility, not of arrogance or hauteur.
The soul, inflated with the pride of personality, i.e, ahamkāra, has wound round itself a number of coils of desires, and suffers from the tightness of the cords. And the strangest thing
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