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106
THE WAY OF LIFE
decorations and physical beauty can be seen in schools and colleges, in cinema-houses and dramatic theatres, in hotels and restaurants, in clubs and parks, and in functions and marriages.
IS THERE A FAIR GOING ON IN TEMPLES ?.
This kind of exhibitionism can be seen even in religious centres and at places where religious discourses are being delivered.
Do people possess the sense to realize what kind of dress they should wear when they come to religious centres ? Do they possess any sense of decency or decorum and propriety in this regard ? Do you realize why you should come to religious centres; what you should do here; and what you should attain here? Do you think that a fair is going on here ? No party is being arranged in these Dharmashalas and upashrayas (religious centres). Why do you come here dressed as actors and actresses ? Cannot you come here as noble householders ? Cannot you come here dressed as cultured men and women ? This is a misfortune for our society. You do not pay heed to anyone's directions; nor do you have sense and the necessary enlightenment
You should not forget this vital point that the kind of dress you wear exercises its own influence on your minds. Every activity of life is related to the mind. If you choose your dress from the point of view of maintaining self-discipline, the dress will help you to keep up your self-discipline. If you choose your dress with an overbearing pride you cannot keep up your self-discipline. You must find this out by your own experience. One day you go out for a walk wearing a dhothi and another day, you go out wearing a pant; and see the difference in your moods and mental states. Let a woman go out one day wearing a sari and another day a skirt or a maxi, and then if she studies her mental states on the two occasions she will be able to see the difference between the two.
Do you have this desire ? "I must entertain only noble and holy thoughts and feelings”.
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