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DISCOURSE 19
for virtues. The quality of love has its roots in the attitude of seeing virtues. Cultivate an eye for virtues. Do not allow it to end. Blindness to virtues is more harmful than physical blindness.
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I have come across some people who perform spiritual austerities but who do not admire the virtues of others. Sometimes, they say: "Now-a-days, we do not find any virtuous people in this world". Yes, they regard themselves as virtuous. They do not regard others as virtuous. On account of the tendency of seeing only vices, the hatred for jivas has increased so much in those people that only God knows what terrible ruin will befall them. Those who hate jivas and love inert objects will surely fall into spiritual ruin. Even in the present life they will not have peace of mind, equanimity and felicity. The great acharya says that the hearts of those who perform spiritual austerities, must be full of amity. It is essential that you must give the highest place in your life to these four sublime emotions. Of these four qualities, we have discussed amity and compassion; and now we are discussing love. We have to discuss the main points relating to love, and we have to describe its kinds but not to-day.
This is enough for today.
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