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178
THE WAY OF LIFE
IF YOU CANNOT GET MILK, WILL YOU DRINK POISON ?
Another point. If you cannot find noble people, are you going to associate with ignoble people? Is it proper to drink poison if you cannot get milk? It is not proper under any circumstances to associate with people whose conduct and practices are ignoble. I know that since the time women began to take up jobs and to do business, some have stooped to the level of selling their sexual favours. Some have also begun to drink liquors. Some have begun to dance in clubs. They desire sensual pleasures. They desire physical enjoyments. They riesire leisure and pleasure and gaiety.
In the same manner, men also desire pleasure and enjoyments. They do not relish noble company. Now-a-days, in some families boys and girls do not like their parents to be noble in respect of principles and practices. They do not at all like the tradition of living according to noble principles and practices. What is to be done ? Ignoble practices have been spreading and increasing. People are slighting noble principles and practices.
What is there that a man would not do for the sake of his physical welfare? What does he not discard ? He goes to any kind of doctor. When that is so, cannot you discard the company of ignoble people for your spiritual welfare ? Cannot you associate with noble people? What you need is a strong desire to attain spiritual elevation. What you need is a strong determination to attain spiritual elevation and purification. What you need is a fear regarding the agonies to be suffered in the life after death.
This fifteenth principle is of the utmost importance to achieve success in the pilgrimage of your life. This dharma is absolutely essential to the pursuit of the path of salvation. Today, I have discussed this principle briefly.
This is enough for to-day.
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