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DISCOURSE 16
ground unconscious. This is the highest form of compassion, and this is called extreme kindness.
What is your condition?
Dharma commences with compassion or kindness. You are men of dharma; you know. What happens when three or four beggars come to your doors on the same day?
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From the Audience: Let alone the question of beggars coming to our doors! Even if Sadhus come for food, three or four times, we become upset and agitated.
Maharajashri: What do you say?
Sadhus are worthy people. You should have devotion and reverence for them; not compassion. When a man has reverence and devotion for somebody, he would be ready to surrender everything to him. You say that you do not like Sadhus coming to your house for food, three or four times a day. When that is so, it means that you have no reverence for Sadhus, and that you have no devotion for Sadhus. Yes. If you do not have the capacity to give food to Sadhus, if you are poor and if you are in such financial straits, that you cannot give food to Sadhus, that is a different matter. In that case, you will only regret your inability but you are not devoid of devotion and respect for Sadhus. But how can there be devotion and reverence for Sadhus and the desire to entertain them in a heart that is devoid of compassion? When you do not have compassion for beggars; and kindness for those who are helpless and destitute, you cannot have the desire to entertain and give food to Sadhus and saintly men.
From the Audience: But we come across some people who treat beggars with contempt and hatred; yet who show reverence and devotion to Sadhus and render service to them.
Maharajashri: You have mentioned a very good point. Such heartless and unkind people render service to us as long as they can attain some selfish motive by that; or they may do so because it brings them honour and prestige in society or they may do so on account of the pressure of somebody in the house.
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