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THE WAY OF LIFE
But she used to worry him every day. She did not allow him to eat his food peacefully. She used to upbraid him using very harsh words. The poor man being a man of a serene temperament heard whatever she said patiently. He did not even give a reply to her. But if that woman does not understand his position and if she does not give up her insistence, I fear that the man may run away from his house.
This is not the way to change the likes and dislikes of one's husband. She must try to bring about a change in him by means of patient persuasion, by means of sweet words and suave appeals, as well as by intelligent methods. But who can persuade people like you to perform spiritual austerities?
THE PARITY OF FOOD AND DRINKS
Just as there is the need for a parity between the husband and the wife in respect of appearance and preferences, there is also the need for the parity in respect of food and drinks or the parity in respect of Relish or Rasa. Relish or Rasa here means a preference for food and drinks. If there are disagreements in respect of their relish for food and drinks, quarrels and misunderstandings arise. In this matter, the wife must always bear in mind the kind of food or drink that her husband relishes. Those women who know the taste or relish of their husbands and prepare food accordingly get the love and admiration of their husbands. Whenever the question of what is fit to be eaten and what is unfit to be eaten arises, the wife has to manage the situation with great calmness, patience and equanimity. Of course, this matter should be considered seriously even before the marriage. If a woman does not eat the food that is prohibited she must choose a man for her husband who also does not eat such food. In case she chooses and marries a man who eats prohibited food, she has to take recourse to patience, and persuasion. The taste for food in the husband or in the wife has to be changed by means of suavity.
Why are these parities essential between the husband and the wife ? Have you understood it? This is human life, and this is the best state of existence in which we can carry out spiritual
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