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THE WAY OF LIFE
would dwell upon the defects of her husband. What is the consequence of all this? Only mutual animosities? Then what else remains in life ? Now, think of this incident of a different kind.
A young man praises the virtues of his wife in the presence of his mother. If she has no eye for virtues, she would not like to hear her daughter-in-law praised. She would think that her son has fallen into the snares of infatuation for his wife and that he is slighting her. Such a mother-in-law would see defects and faults in her daughter-in-law and would dwell upon them at length. She would contrive to bring about some kind of animosity between her son and her daughter-in-law. Such a mother begins to cause sorrow to her son for whose happiness she celebrated his marriage. She would see faults in her son; she would see faults in her daughter-in-law and she would dwell upon their faults in the presence of others. The consequence of this would be disastrous. Such a mother would undermine the love and affection between her son and her daughter-in-law. In her old age, she will have to experience inordinate anguish and if she dies in sorrowful and angry contemplations, she would be ruined spiritually also.
THE TENDENCY TO SEE FAULTS IS THE THORNY WAY TO SORROWS
Arthadhayan or painful contemplation means seeing faults in others; thinking of the faults of others and speaking ill of
hers. When this kind of contemplation namely Arthadhyan becomes intense and incessant, it assumes the form of Raudradhyan or angry contemplation. At least, do you know what kind of sinful Karmas bind you on account of Arthadhyan and Raudradhyan ? At least, do you have a knowledge of those sinful Karmas? Have you at anytime thought calmly about this? If you say, "We do not have time to think of all this, it does not matter !” Do not think of this and be prepared to face the evil consequences. If you have only an eye for faults, no one would be a noble man in your eyes. You would see only defects everywhere. If you do not see noble men, how can you see their virtues ? If you do not see virtues how can you praise
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