Way of Life Part 4

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

Page 53

DISCOURSE 76
43
has made this prohibition, with his farsightedness and his foresight.
“EXCESS” IS EXCESSIVELY DANGEROUS
We naturally develop "excessive” familiarity with those people who are noble in their dealings with us; who are affectionate towards us; who render some service to us; and who help us when we are in difficulties. That means, excessive familiarity with such people gets established. We do not think that there is anything wrong in it. The others also do not think that there is anything wrong in it. We also feel honoured by such familiarity. We say, "How intimate our family is with him?" Visiting each other's houses; eating food in each other's houses....moving about together; giving gifts to one another etc increase day by day.
The great sage who has written Dharmabindu visualizes a source of danger in this kind of intimacy. He says "3fa9futa 3TOFT” (familiarity breeds indifference and contempt). When people grow excessively intimate with one another, they will not care to respect the limits of propriety. Sometimes, the limits are transgressed and the transgression brings about contempt or dislike. People may not control their tongues. On acco. unt of the absence of control over the tongue our relations with others may be broken, Too much of intimacy may bring about antipathy. People may also stop speaking to one another on account of some misunderstanding.
Just as there will not be any control on the tongue among people who are excessively intimate with one another, their financial dealings also will be free. They keep lending and borrowing money. Is that not so? They also keep lending and borrowing jewels. On account of these dealings, misunderstandings and quarrels arise. They begin making accusations and counteraccusations against one another. Serious quarrels take place, Many calamities arise.
You may be a man of nobility; you may be a man of knowledge and sense, yet if you develop excessive intimacy with any