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DISCOURSE 89
thousand four hundred rupees in the purse and I have kept it in the almirah". My dishonesty pained me greatly. I read your announcements in the papers. It contained your address. So I decided to return the purse to you. At once, I came here to give it to you".
The owner of the purse was greatly amazed on hearing the story. He took out a hundred-rupee note from the purse and offered it to him. But the gentleman folding his hands refused it. He said, "Sir, actually my servant deserves this gift because he saved me from immorality. It was his honesty that impelled me to follow the path of morality".
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The servant was not wealthy. He had no degrees. Yet how honest he was! But some wealthy men, who are degree-holders and who enjoy honour and prestige in society, are dishonest. Their dishonesty is caused by greed.
*The craving for acquiring more and more money.
The craving for the company of a beautiful woman. * The craving to attain more and more fame. *The craving for position or power.
It is only such cravings that impel a man to take recourse to immoral and ignoble methods. The greater the acquisition, the greater the craving; and so Abhinivesh (villainous scheming), appears in the life of people.
GAIN INCREASES GREED
1. The craving for wealth impels people to commit such immoral and ignoble actions as stealing, robbery, accepting bribes, smuggling and deceit. As long as there is craving in man's mind, he feels impelled to engage himself in such despicable activities. These ignoble actions cannot be totally eradicated by law. They can be eradicated only by means of transforming the hearts of such people.
From the Audience: We do not have a heart. When that is so how can there be a change of heart in us?
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