When you go to a doctor, you must take the medicine that he prescribes and follow his advice and instructions. There is no use blaming him if you default. How can he cure you if you do not drink the mixture or stick to the restrictions he has imposed or regulate your diet according to his advice? Do as I say, follow My advice and then watch the result.
It is a sign of foolishness to brood over mishaps and mistakes once committed and punish oneself for them by refusing to take food. It is a very childish way of correction. What is the good of illtreating the body for the sake of correcting the mind?
Even if you cannot love others, do not hate them or feel envy towards them. Do not misunderstand their motives and scandalise them; if you only knew, their motives might be as noble as yours or their action might be due to ignorance, rather than wickedness or mischief. Pardon the other man’s faults but deal harshly with your own.
The holy culture of this ancient land has been spoilt by just one impurity; intolerance of another s success, prosperity or progress. If you cannot help another, at least avoid doing him harm or causing him pain. That itself is a great service. What right have you to find fault with another or to talk evil of him? When you say that nothing can ever happen on earth without His Will, why get annoyed or angry? Your duty is to cleanse yourself and engage in your own inner purification. That endeavour will bring you the cooperation of all good men and you will find strength and joy welling up within you. (SSS Vol.1)
You may have heard about the great and noble Englishman Philip Sydney. While he was at school his father wrote to him a letter giving some words of advice. He wrote, ‘My dear Son! Every day offer your heartfelt prayers to God. Strive always to turn your mind towards God. Behave with respect and humility towards your teachers and fellow students. Do not give room for anger, greed or discontentment. Don’t take to heart any criticism levelled at you. Don’t get elated by the praise of others. Don’t indulge in criticism of others.’ Towards the end of the letter the father described an important warning. He said ‘If you have to make a promise to anyone, make it only to God and to none else. Speech is a gift of God. Hence the plighted word must be offered only to God. You have no right to give a pledge to any one else. You will be guilty of misusing your word. If you follow this rule your glory will shine. Your wisdom will grow. You will stand forth as an ideal student. Always control your tongue. Never allow it to run amuck.’ Philip Sydney followed his father’s advice and achieved eminence. (SSS Vol.23, pp. 96-97)