In English
Four kinds of evil persons
Evil thoughts, evil deeds, evil conduct, and attachment to the evil-minded - these are (the four evil persons). Hence, students should, at the outset, give up the company of bad persons. Once you have achieved maturity in moral stature, you can associate with anyone. At this stage, when your hearts are tender and your minds are not developed, you should not move freely with all and sundry. When you are spiritually immature, you should not associate with one and all equally. These four rules should be the guiding-posts in your life. If you adhere to these four rules, you will be able to acquire all knowledge, by the grace of the Divine. This is illustrated by the story of , who acquired spiritual knowledge from purely by his devoted service to the preceptor, without any attention to scriptural studies. Service to the preceptor was the (meritorious deed) which he performed all the time. This sanctified his life. While bringing the clothes of his from the other bank of the , the river was in spate and rose to the level of his neck. He prayed to Lord to enable him to serve his preceptor. He could reach the other bank by walking over lotus shaped slabs which appeared on the swollen river. He got the name and received all spiritual knowledge from by sheer grace.