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THE WAY OF LIFE
the other-worldly welfare and spiritual elevation; and they give them the necessary inspiration to achieve those things. But there is the element of anger in the endeavour to give them such an inspiration; there is harshness in the language spoken; and the words spoken are sharp like arrows. See some examples of such utterances :
- You are an atheist....
You are completely spoilt....
You will go to hell.... - You are absolutely stupid....
Your intelligence is completely corrupt....
This kind of thing cannot go on in my house ! etc. From the Audience: In fact, there are words harsher and more cruel than these.
Maharajashri : Yes. I know there are such words; but they cannot be uttered. No one can be reformed by such ignoble methods. Can anyone be reformed by such methods ? Can anyone be made to observe noble principles of conduct by such methods ? No. They will be spoilt; they will proceed on the path of dharma or unrighteousness; and they will fall into ignoble practices. That is why I say that mothers should speak tenderly and sweetly like Rudrasoma. A woman who can speak sweetly and softly can earn a place of high esteem in the hearts of her children. Probably the tremendous excitement of the senses and the strong impact of passions may not allow youngsters to listen to the well-meant advice of their parents or their spiritual heads but if the parents and the spiritual heads are serene and soft spoken, affection, amity, esteem and faith will appear in the hearts of youngsters. I have seen such youngsters; I have known such youngsters. In their hearts I found abounding love for their parents and abiding faith in their spiritual mentors. Those youngsters may be a little lacking in respect of the observance of the principles of noble conduct but the love that is there in their hearts for their parents and
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