Way of Life Part 3

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 81

DISCOURSE 53
It is only when your eye for virtues is total and absolute that you can develop that kind of attachment for noble men. As soon as that eye for virtues is lost; and as soon as you develop the tendency of looking for faults, that attachment disappears. Then you will begin to see faults in the very man whom you adored as a man of virtues. In this world, no one is absolutely faultless and perfect. There are faults even in men of virtues. Even if there are faults in them you should not look for them, just as a man who loves wealth sees no fault in wealth though it has its derogations. The faults in materialistic prosperity are not visible to a man who loves wealth. In the same manner, you should not see defects in men of virtues. Even if somebody shows you defects in such men, you should not see them. You must treat a noble man as the very embodiment of all virtues. You must have this kind of attachment for noble
men.
THE TENDENCY TO LOOK FOR DEFECTS AFFECTS YOUR ATTACHMENT
69
Those who have the habit of looking for faults do not observe this ordinary principle. They cannot see even a single noble man in this world. On all sides, they see nothing but the darkness of defects and derogations. For them, even simple truth is only simplicity; and they wrongfully disgrace right perfection. They fill themselves with the darkness of defects and derogations; and spread it on all sides; and can see nothing but the darkness of defects. They develop attachment only for defects. Their contacts also will be with men of defects and vices. They cannot maintain a constant contact with anyone because they acquire vices by their tendency to look for vices. They treat with dislike, contempt and abhorrence those in whom they see defects. They do not treat them with neutrality or amity or with love. They cannot be friendly with anyone; nor can they glorify anyone.
Those who have the habit of seeing only faults, see faults even in their spiritual heads (Dharmagurus). Even if such people receive the Deeksha (initiation) and become sadhus, they continue to look for defects. They see defects in their