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Chapter IV - Ahimsa, A Quality of
the Strong
If you practice Ahimsa, you should put up with insults,
rebukes, criticisms and assaults also. You should never
retaliate nor wish to offend anybody even under extreme
provocation. You should not entertain any evil thought against
anybody. You should not harbor anger. You should not curse.
You should be prepared to lose joyfully even your life in the
cause of Truth. The Ultimate Truth can be attained only
through Ahimsa.
Ahimsa is the acme of bravery. Ahimsa is not possible without
fearlessness. Non-violence cannot be practiced by weak
persons. Ahimsa cannot be practiced by a man who is terribly
afraid of death and has no power of resistance and endurance.
It is a shield, not of the effeminate, but of the potent.
Ahimsa is a quality of the strong. It is a weapon of the
strong. When a man beats you with a stick, you should not
entertain any thought of retaliation or any unkind feeling
towards the tormentor. Ahimsa is the perfection of
forgiveness.
Remember the noble actions of great sages of yore. Jayadeva,
the author of Gita-Govinda, gave large and rich present to his
enemies who cut off his hands, and obtained Mukti (liberation)
for them through his sincere prayers. He said: "O my lord!
Thou hast given Mukti to Thy enemies, Ravana and Kamsa. Why
canst Thou not give Mukti to my enemies now ?" A saint or a
sage possesses a magnanimous heart.
Pavahari Baba carried the bag of vessels and followed the
thief saying: "O Thief Narayana! I never knew that You visited
my cottage. Pray accept these things." The thief was quite
astonished. He left off his evil habit from that very second
and became a disciple of Pavahari Baba.
Remember the noble actions of saints like Jayadeva and
Pavahari Baba, you will have to follow their principles and
ideals.
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