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DISCOURSE 39
151
YOU CANNOT ATTAIN PEACE BY MEANS OF MERE “ARTHA” (MONEY) AND “KAMA” (THE FULFILMENT OF WORLDLY DESIRES)
From the Audience: We associate only with those from whom we can get some financial benefit and whose company enables us to fulfil our desires for worldly pleasures.
Maharajashri : You have become so much attached to Artha (Wealth) and Kama (the fulfilment of worldly desires) that you have forgotten the difference between Punya (merit) and Pap (sin). You have also forgotten your souls. But you must not forget this vital point that you cannot attain either peace or felicity by means of Artha (money) and Kama (the fulfilment of worldly desires). Life is not merely wealth, pomp and colourful display. If you desire to lead a life of peace, felicity and nobility, first of all, you must escape from those evils. Therefore, if you have friends who commit those sins, you discard them. If you happen to incur some financial loss by discarding such friends, it does not matter : you first discard such friends. It does not matter even if you lose much financially. But first discard such friends. Life is more valuable than wealth and prosperity. Do not forget it. On account of the friendship with bad people, many young men and many girls and women have lost their chastity and purity; and are walking on the path of ignobility. The lust for money and the desire for sensual pleasures have destroyed many. They cause great loss and harm to you.
THE PATH OF PLEASURES IS SMOOTH AND DECEPTIVE
I happened to read a real story that took place some years ago. It was an unhappy story of that kind. There was a family. Their financial condition was not good. They were somehow managing to make both ends meet. The family comprised the father, the mother and two children. One was a boy; and the other was a girl. Both of them were studying in a college. The boy was good-natured; and he was a young man of excellent character; but the girl was different from this. She had developed the habit of loitering about with wealthy friends and
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