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THE WAY OF LIFE
sities, you should not become elated and proud in prosperity. If you see someone who is not proud in spite of being affluent, what do you think of him? Suppose a friend of yours is poverty-stricken. He goes to Bombay in search of an occupation. There, fortune favours him. Within a few years, he earns five lakh rupees. You go to Bombay on some business and you call on your friend at his house. He comes out on seeing you; approaches you and embraces you affectionately; and he introduces you to his wealthy friends. He treats you with genuine hospitality. When such a thing happens, would you feel happy or not? Of course, you are not an affluent man, yet he treats you with affection and regard. When such a thing happens, would not your esteem for him increase? Would you not admire his politeness even in prosperity? Would you not praise and admire his politeness? If you keep admiring such people, you too would acquire the quality of being polite in prosperity.
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BURN AWAY PRIDE
You should not feel proud in prosperity. This principle is not applicable merely to wealth; it is applicable to strength, beauty, progress, intelligence, knowledge and spiritual attainments; you should not feel proud of any of these things. You should know that that man who does not feel proud of anyone of these possessions, is a great man. Though a man may have extraordinary strength, if he does not feel proud of his strength and if he does not display it before a coward, that is a great virtue. This is an extraordinary virtue of a noble householder. Even if some insult him, he does not display his strength. If you are impressed by such a man, you would surely admire him. Surely, there would be admiration for his virtues. Even if a person has extraordinary beauty or handsomeness, if that person is not proud of it, and if that person does not keep praising his own or her own appearance, what would you think of such a person? Would you not look upon such a person with regard and esteem? That person's humility would fascinate you more than his or her appearance and you cannot help admiring such a person. Einstein, the great scientist was a genius. He was a scientist of outstanding excellence, yet he was not proud of
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