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THE WAY OF LIFE
compassion for them; but the sorrows of those who commit sins like theft, violence and uttering falsehood etc., are not openly visible. Though the causes of their sorrows are visible, their sorrows are not openly evident. If you think of the fruit of sins, you will be able to realize and visualize their sorrows; “This man commits the sin of violence. The fruits of violence are disease, sorrow, misfortune and retaliation. He does not know or he does not realize that he has to taste the fruit of his sins".
The anguish of those who commit thefts cannot be seen openly. You must realize what kind of sinful karma binds the man who commits a theft and what kind of anguish, he has to suffer when his sinful karma begins to produce its results. If you have this knowledge, you will never get angry with those who commit thefts; on the contrary, you will experience compassion for them. You will think of preventing them from committing thefts. COMPASSION FOR A THIEF: AN ACTUAL INCIDENT
An incident took place in London. A young man set out on a certain night with the purpose of committing a theft. He was proceeding on a street. The police suspected that he must be a thief. The police became alert and the young man also understood that they were vigilant. In order to escape from the police, he went into a church. The doors of the church were open. He found that the bishop of the church was sitting with some guests conversing with them. The young man also sat in a chair. There were tea-cups on the table. The servant gave tea to the young man also. The bishop did not notice the young man because he was absorbed in the conversation with his guests. The cups on the table were silver cups. The young man's mind was tempted. On that night, he had set out only with the purpose of committing a theft and now he had got an opportunity. When that bishop went into another room with his guests, the young man put the cups into his large pockets and quickly went out. But outside, the police were waiting for him The young man was caught. The police put him in a lock-up. The stolen articles were also taken out of his pockets.
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