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DISCOURSE 61
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his Chief Minister is ignoble in thought and action. The King and the people attain welfare and prosperity, if the Minister is a man of noble aspirations, ideals and actions. BE CAREFUL IN BECOMING INTIMATE WITH PEOPLE
Be cautious while developing contacts or intimacy with any person. Be vigilant. You should not develop intimacy with a person attracted by his sweet words, his fashionable life or his affluence. You should not develop intimacy with a person on account of the fascination of beauty or appearance. Appearances are deceptive. When you want to develop intimacy with a person, first you must examine his conduct, character and nature.
From the Audience : We can know a person's thoughts and nature only after developing a contact with him.
Maharajashri : Even before that, it is possible to find out a person's thoughts and nature. Conversations with a person reveal his nature and thoughts. Yes! If a person is deceptive and if he tries to develop intimacy with you for any selfish motive, then he may conceal his wicked thoughts and designs from you. Only after you become intimate with him, will you realize the truth about his nature and thoughts. But normally in the beginning itself, you can make out the truth about a person's thoughts, actions, and principles. Let us suppose that you could not make out the truth in the beginning and that you found out the truth later. You should give up all contacts with him as soon as you make this discovery. You must have that moral courage. You should not think thus : "Let him do what he wants to do. We should not commit such sins. But where is the need for discarding friendship with him ?" If you, thinking thus, continue to have contact and intimacy with an ignoble person, some day, you and your family will fall into ruin. If you do not fall into ruin, the members of your family may.
A REAL STORY
A noble family lives in a city. That family is still living there. It is a highly cultured family. A new tenant came to
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