In English
The company you join must be purer than you
The easiest and the most fruitful method of keeping yourself free from dust and rust, is the (holy company). The company of the good and the godly will slowly and surely chasten and cleanse the persons prone to stray away from the straight path towards Self- Realisation. Care has to be taken to see that you select and stick to the proper company. A cup of water has no cash value; but, if it is poured into ten cups of milk, it acquires the value that people attach to milk! If on the other hand, one cup of milk is poured into ten cups of water, it loses the value lt had and is condemned as useless. So, the you join must be purer, more venerable, and sticking to higher ideals of virtue and truth than you yourselves. When a smoker joins a group of non-smokers, there is every likelihood of his giving up that bad habit; but, when a non-smoker falls into a den of smokers, he is certain to become a victim soon! Such is the subtle influence of the company one keeps. The company you join must be qualitatively and quantitatively greater and higher than the one in which you are now caught. There are precious gems of wisdom within your hearts, which require excavation, in order to be of any benefit to you. Intelligence is the Instrument you have to use, in order to gain them. At the very start, you will encounter a boulder barring your way - that is the body conciousness, the Ego. Desires are the loose rocks that have also to be dug out and kept aside. Then, you come to a bed of sand - good thoughts, good words, good deeds; when this stratum is reached, you are nearing success. If you keep on in , everyday, your hearts will maintain their purity unimpaired; but, if you seek one, only off and on, it will be difficult to win Grace or particles of it, for, the vessel will be tarnished and untidy. In your own households, you must have noticed that a vessel in dally use is bright and clean; but, vessels stored and used only now and then will have to be scrubbed with great vigour to become bright. You must take all the trouble and welcome all the patience needed, to seek and remain therein. For, It is not being born a man that is the sign of the glory; lt is living as a man that confers the dignity.