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THE WAY OF LIFE
are born to worthy parents. This is Samsar. There is no limit to strange phenomena in this Samsar. A sensible and intelligent man can save his soul. Intelligence lies in saving oneself from defects and sins. It is not proper to throw the blame upon others for your evil deeds. If you do so, you cannot save yourself from sin and ignobility. If children are noble, sensible courageous and heroic, they will lead even their parents on the right path. But I do not want to discuss that point to-day. Today, my purpose is to make parents conscious of their duties because they should become worthy of worship and adoration. They, of course, have lost their worthiness; and they have to attain that worthiness again.
Parents are not worthy of worship merely because they are parents. In order to become worthy of worship, they have to acquire virtues; and they have to be generous. You know how widespread is the worship of the beneficent forces in our country. The sun is worshipped because he gives light to the world. The moon is worshipped because he gives us medicinal herbs. Trees are worshipped because they give us fruits and shadow. Rivers are worshipped and seas are worshipped. Benefactors should be worshipped because beneficence is the supreme principle of this universe. We should worship all those entities that bestow benefactions on us. There may be differences in the ways of worship but the emotion behind the worship should be one of gratitude. Parents bestow benefactions on their children; and so they become worthy of worship.
THE VARIOUS DUTIES OF PARENTS TOWARDS THEIR CHILDREN
To-day, I exhort and caution parents from this point of view : They should be always beneficent towards their children. Children should develop love for their parents. They should keep doing their moral and spiritual duties and their duties relating to their family and to their children. They should educate their children. Educating children does not mean merely admitting them into a school and getting them books...and then leaving it to the mother and children. This will not be all right.
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