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DQ
THE ART OF POSITIVE THINKING
The tale illustrates a lise of reaction. Thic sparrow meant well and spoke out of charity, but the monkey's pride (and man's too) knows no bounds; he resents any kind of interference, however wellmeaning He looks upon himself as the wisest and the best — a superior being. Who could advise him then, when all advice is looked upon as an affront? Most cruel and vicious is the serpent of the ego that is firmly established in a man's heart; withal, it is very poisonous and perverse, ready to deal a mortal blow to anything or person that dare confront it.
With pride in our heart, the development of non-violence is just not possible. Will reaction ever lead us to freedom? This discussion is pertinent not only to a mendicant's lifc, but also to society. Even for living in society, it is desirable to curb one's pride. For the monk, of course, it is absolutely necessary. But the worldly man must also exercise restraint.
Queen Victoria knocked at the door of Prince Albert's apart. ment. "Who is there?" demanded the Prince from inside. "Empress Victoria", said the Queen, but the door continued shut. She knocked again, and once again the same query greeted her ears : "Who's there?" "Your dear wife, Victoria" said the Queen this time and the door was instantly flung open. For the Empress there was no admission, but for the sweetheart there could be no bar. Hauteur is productive of tension and engenders still greater arrogance in another, whereas humility begets humility. The one great reason for reaction is pride, and when both the parties are filled with selfimportance, the situation becomes impossible.
Pointing out another's error also invites a reactionary response. To tell another that he is in the wrong is a dangerous thing. Ninety-nine persons out of one hundred would passionately rescnt such a charge. To indicate another's lapse is to turn him into a soc. This applies not only to worldly people, but also to the spiritual practitioners. Why should I then try to reform another and buy his enmity in the bargain? Because the man whose mistake is brought to the fore, seldom accepts it with grace. Instead of responding to it positively and saying "Thank you very much for pointing out my error! You have done me good. I'll be more careful in future the man very often starts quarrelling with his reformer, saying “What the hell do you think of yourself? A slip of a boy and finding fault with me? What do you know of life? I've lived longer and know better. What cheek to discover any faults in me! I'll teach you a lesson!" A terrible reaction is born which soon changes into a desire for revenge, and is ever destructive.
One man casually tells his friend. "You're in the wrong" and immediately there develops a knot in the friend's mind, and moved by an impulse to refute, he hurls the same charge at his accuser listy
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