________________
162
THE WAY OF LIFE LEAVE THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE CALUMNIATING OTHERS
Make a strong determination to free yourself from the ignoble habit of calumniating others. First, stop calumniating those with whom you have no connection and with whom you have no contact of any kind. Never associate with those who calumniate others. Even in your family if someone is calumniating others express your disapproval of that propensity. "I do not like such things being said in my house”. You say this even if your disapproval displeases your friends and relatives that come to your house and start calumniating others. Their displeasure does not matter. They will realize some day that you are right.
Next, you stop calumniating relatives and friends. Even if you happen to know some secrets or defects of others do not speak of them in anyone's presence.
CALUMNIATION IS NOT THE REPLY TO CALUMNIATION
Question : If someone calumniates us, can we not calumniate him ? If someone gives publicity to our defects can we not give publicity to his defects ?
Answer: You can surely do so if by doing so you can befriend the person and if your hostility can be lessened. But is this possible ? Only enmity increases when people calumniate each other; and their friendship lessens. You may ask this question : "Shall we allow such persons to calumniate us ? If we do not take revenge against them we have to suffer defamation and disgrace in this world. How can we tolerate such defamation ?" What I say is that calumniation is not the reply or the right response to calumniation; and that there are other methods of stopping it. Even there, you should never calumniate a man who is popular and who is respected by many people, in society.
Calumniation begins with the exposure of a person's concealed defects and weaknesses; but soon it assumes the form of attributing defects to a person and condemning him for those
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
