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THE WAY OF LIFE
During all these years, not even on a single day did I get so much profit. Only to-day have I got so much profit and to-day the beggar has been here. Therefore, his merit alone should be the cause for my profit".
The Seth was greatly impressed by the austere manner in which the beggar was observing his vow. He had this faith, "By means of Dharma, we can destroy our sinful Karmas and if we follow Dharma, fortune favours us”. Actually, the beggar's good fortune had begun to show its effect from the time he met the Gurudev ! People also began to sympathise with him. Was it not his good fortune ?
THE SETH ALSO HAD GREATNESS • What the Seth thought in respect of the beggar's good fortune was right. What he thought further shows his greatness. The greatness of the Seth lies in his decision to make the beggar a partner in his business. If he was not great, he would have retained the beggar as a worker in his shop. If the Seth wanted only money, he would have retained the beggar as a servant in his shop. If he was selfish, he would not have made the beggar a partner in his business.
From the Audience : Did the punyakarma (merit) of the beggar inspire such lofty thoughts in the mind of the Seth ?
Maharajashri : Yes, surely. We have to think so. Nevertheless, the Seth also had nobility. If the opportunity is good and if the material cause is not proper, there will be no fulfilment. If the material cause is not proper but if the opportunity is not good, there will be no fulfilment.
The Seth made the beggar a partner in his shop. The beggar was no more a beggar. He became a Seth. He secured a residence. He got married and he came to be honoured in the city as a man of prestige.
But he continued to observe the vow of eating only one kind of food grain, one kind of vegetable and one kind of vigai (oily substance). He observed this vow with cheerfulness and
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