Way of Life Part 4

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

Page 39

DISCOURSE 75
from the path of righteousness in the pilgrimage of your life, you will be going against the will of the people around you. They will oppose you and will become hostile towards you. They will condemn you; and treat you with contempt and will cause loss to you. They will also condemn and deprecate even your noble actions and conventions. All these evils result from your deviation from the path of righteousness in the pilgrimage of your life and for this you will be at fault. If you carry out the pilgrimage of your life in the proper manner, people will respect you and your actions and conventions.
DO NOT BE IGNOBLE IN YOUR DEALINGS WITH ANYONE
You understand this vital principle. You should not antagonise the people in the midst of whom you have to live and with those with whom you have to live. Whether one is a householder or a sadhu, he has to live in the midst of people. So, you have to live in the midst of people with a spirit of co-operation. Of course, in this matter, you have to observe the principle of propriety. People are of various kinds. You should not behave in respect of the ignoble people in the same manner as you do in the case of noble people. Yet you should not act ignobly in your dealings with poor or powerless but simple people. Sometimes, you must give importance to such people and you must help them also. If you do so, people will be pleased with you.
29
Some jivas on account of their sinful karmas are born in morally low families; they may be weak; they may be ignorant and they may be unintelligent but you should not treat them with contempt. Sometimes, you have to respect their wishes also. If you do so those people will be grateful to you. They will be delighted by such a treatment from you and when some need arises they will render great help to you.
Recently, I happened to read a real story which took place in the Karnataka area and which illustrates this truth. It is not an old story. It took place only sixty years ago. If you listen to the story, you will understand what benefits you get if you carry out the pilgrimage of your life in the right manner and the loss you suffer if you commit blunders in carrying out the pilgri