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Chapter III -
Dangers of Mixing with Women (or Men) and Worldlings
During the period of Sadhana, avoid the company of women (or
men in the case of women). You must never mix with young
ladies (or men), however strong you may be. Maya works through
under-currents so stealthily that you may not be aware of your
actual downfall.
Keep the mind fully occupied with spiritual pursuits. Keep
yourself at the farthest distance from everything that would
stir up your passions. Then only you will be safe.
Do not live with householders. Do not test your spiritual
strength and purity when you are a beginner on the spiritual
path. Do not rush into evil associations when you are a
spiritual neophyte to show that you have the courage to face
sin and impurity. It will be a serious mistake. You will be
running into a grave danger. You will have a quick downfall. A
small fire will be very easily extinguished by a heap of dust.
Mind has a great power of imitation. This is the reason why a
spiritual aspirant is prohibited from mixing with
householders. His mind will try to imitate the minds of
worldlings. Downfall will ensue.
If an aspirant moves with rich people, Zamindars, and Rajas,
his mind begins to imitate the luxurious habits of these
people and, ere long, he gets an unconscious downfall. Certain
bad habits creep in him unconsciously. And he finds it
difficult to tear out or remove these bad habits.
An aspirant can live only for a short time in his native place
if there is an urgent call. Yogic rules and laws cannot permit
him to stay there for a sufficiently long period, however
suitable the place may be and whatever may be the degree of
Vairagya of the aspirant. The force of impressions is
tremendous. Unless all the Samskaras are thoroughly burnt
through Nirvikalpa-Samadhi, it is not safe for one to stay for
a long time in one's own native place. He is still within the
danger zone.
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