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THE WAY OF LIFE
go out in a very simple dress. Why do not you wear expensive and fashionable dress ?"
THE GLORY OF AFFLUENCE LIES IN SIMPLICITY
They said, "Our father taught us this principle even when we were very young. He used to say, "Affluence appears glorious in simplicity. If you lead a simple life, your capacity to do noble deeds increases. Your wealth is to be used to carry out some noble endeavours; not to squander on futile fashions. Father was absolutely simple in his ways and he used to give lakhs of rupees as donations".
When there came up the topic of donations, I began splitting hairs and asked them, "Your father gives away lakhs of rupees as donation. Do you like it ?"
Both the brothers began to laugh and they said, "Why should we not like it? Father earns a lot and spends money for noble purposes. When that is so, the question of our being displeased does not arise".
Not a single paisa of wasteful expenditure! They never went to hotels. They always had their food and tiffin at home. Though they were affluent, they were not imprudent. This is an ideal way of living. For the last few decades, there has been an increase in wasteful expenditure in our country and in our society. Wealthy people, of course, waste money but even the middle-classes and the poor people are doing the same.
What is the monthly expenditure that a middle class family incurs on movies? Easily such a family spends about twentyfive rupees a month. How much do they spend on beedis, cigarettes and tea? Monthly, it will come to fifty rupees. How much money is spent on buying soap? How many kinds of soap are necessary? How many kinds of face-powders are needed? How much money is spent on washermen? How much pocket-money is necessary for every member of the family?
They spend so much money wastefully, yet they clamour and scream. "The middle-class families are in great difficulties.
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