________________
SWADHARMA
cate undesirable thoughts and feelings. There must not be the least tinge of pride and irritability. You must forget yourself entirely. You must not reserve even a trace of personal element or feeling. Complete dedication to service is needed. If you are equipped with the above qualification, you are a beacon-light and a rare blessing to the world at large. You are indeed a rare and sweet flower whose delicious aroma will permeate and pervade throughout the length and breadth of the land. You would have attained the exalted state of Buddhahood.
Be polite, courteous, kind, obliging and helpful, not now and then, not by fits and starts, but all the time, all throughout your life's career. Never speak a word that can jar or offend others. Think before you speak and see whether what you are going to say will not hurt the feelings of others, whether it is sensible, sweet, truthful and soft. Carefully note beforehand what will be the consequences of your thoughts, speech and actions. You may fail in the beginning several times, but you are bound to attain success in the end if you persist in the practice.
You must not do any work perfunctorily or in a careless, half-hearted manner, without taking any interest. You cannot evolve if you take this attitude of mind. The whole heart, mind, intellect and soul must be in the work. Then only can you call it Yoga or Ishwararpana. Some people have their hands at the work, the mind at the market, the intellect in the
11
161
