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great scholars? Do not those who want to become scientists praise great scientists? If you praise people thus, your selfconfidence grows stronger, "I too can become a scholar or a scientist. I too can become a virtuous person". This kind of confidence grows stronger in you. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR MIND TO BECOME COWARDLY
Lack of faith in oneself and lack of self-confidence in oneself prevent one from coming out of the abysm of decline". "I am a wicked fellow. Even a little sorrow disturbs me completely. Even a little happiness tempts me and elates me. I do not have patience. I do not have courage. I cannot attain any spiritual development in this life. My mind is not firm. It is always fickle and wavering." This kind of thinking brings about decline in a man's life. Frustration surrounds him. It is a great mental distortion in a man to think that he is incapable and unfit. You understand the tremendous potentialities of your mind. The potentialities of the mind are boundless. The mind can make a man healthy and wholesome. It can also throw him into the jaws of death. Therefore, you should not allow your mind to become weak and diffident at any time. You should not allow your mind to become cowardly.
A war was going on in the empire of Magadha. Chanakya, the great man also was on the battlefield with Chandragupta. At that time, a spy came and said, "Oh great minister! Our commander has become friendly with the enemy. Probably our army also may deceive us", Chanakya said with absolute calmness, “If others join the enemy, let them do so; my intelligence should not favour them!" Chanakya, who was aiming at destroying the Nanda Raja and making Chandragupta the emperor of Magadha possessed a strong mind. He never gave way to despair. He had to face many difficulties. He had to face many serious problems. Yet his mind and his intelligence were firm and unshaken.
FIRST, ONE SHOULD BECOME A NOBLE MAN; THEN HE CAN BECOME A SADHU
In order to become a noble person, one requires at least a firm determination. To become a shravak and to become a
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