Way of Life Part 4

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

Page 61

DISCOURSE 76
51
friend's wife ?" Do not such events take place in worldly life? Why do such events occur? They occur because of excessive intimacy. The modern idea of free mingling of men and women in society has originated from excessive intimacy. If there is excessive intimacy between two families it will not take much time for youngsters to develop illicit intimacies. Such intimacies cause the destruction of noble conventions and traditions; and cause the emergence of the poisonous tree of ignoble actions and practices. Intimacy paralyses intelligence.
There was a deep intimacy between two families. Both the families lived in Bombay. In course of time, on account of excessive intimacy, there appeared illicit sexual intimacy between a man of one family and a young lady of the other. She became pregnant. Her husband knew that the pregnancy was the result of her illicit intimacy with his friend of the other family. But their intimacy was so deep that he did not feel that there was anything improper in what had happened.
Three or four months later, the relations between the two families broke down. Their estrangement was so great that they did not like to see one another's faces. That gentlemen said to his wife firmly, "I do not want that child. Either you get rid of the child through an abortion or go to that fellow to whom that child really belongs ?” The woman did not like either of these two suggestions. She did not want to get rid of the child; nor did she want to go to the other man. Every day there used to be quarrels between the husband and the wife. The woman said to her husband, “You are not unaware of what has happened. You used to love your friend so much. You used to say, "He and I are not different; he is myself and I am he ?" You too had intimacy with his wife, yet I kept quiet. Now, since our relations have broken down, should I allow the child in my womb to be killed? I committed one great sin ! Should I commit another great sin ? Kindly pardon me. If you do not like the child, as soon as it is born, we shall entrust it to an orphanage”.
You see, what calamities occur on account of excessive intimacies.