Golden Steps To Salvation

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

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people. This is the reason why a man of noble character and conduct achieves popularity and esteem. People talk of social reforms but society is made up of individuals. Therefore if every individual reforms himself society becomes reformed automatically.
Youngsters are naturally influenced by the character and conduct of elders. Children imitate the good and bad actions of the elders in the house because they are influenced by them. By observing the children in a family we can roughly realize the kind of elders that are in the family because children are naturally influenced by the good and bad actions of their elders. They are like a blotting paper receiving impressions.
What you know and what you believe in is not of much importance. What you do actually is of more importance than your knowledge and beliefs. The implication is that conduct is more valuable than knowledge or beliefs.
Pratikramana and Sāmāyik and the other religious activities performed at home at the right time as a routine are lifeless rituals but they become meaningful and efficacious if they are a part of our very life.
A man of right character and conduct eschews selfglorification. Therefore, it is undesirable to glorify yourself. There is no need to describe the fragrance of a scent and no need to beat a drum to give it publicity. Its own perfume indicates the quality of the scent and the perfume is in the scent. In the same manner a man's character is revealed by his conduct. Knowledge remains in the mind but you do not salute the head of the Gurudev. You salute his feet because the feet symbolize action and conduct. The task of moving about is done by the feet and we move about according to the dictates our knowledge. An English proverb says, “Charity begins at home." Every man reaches his destination by means of his own feet. You cannot walk with the feet of another man; but you can know how to walk in the right direction) by looking at another who is walking. You