We have seen that it is the subjective world that
rules the objective. Change the subject, and the object is bound to change;
purify yourself, and the world is bound to be purified. This one thing requires
to be taught now more than ever before. We are becoming more and more busy about
our neighbours, and less and less about ourselves. The world will change if we
change; if we are pure, the world will become pure. The question is why I
should see evil in others. I cannot see evil unless I be evil. I cannot be
miserable unless I am weak. Things that used to make me miserable when I was a
child, do not do so now. The subject changed, so the object was bound to
change; so says the Vedanta!
Thus the man that has practiced control over
himself cannot be acted upon by anything outside; there is no more slavery for
him. His mind has become free. Such a man alone is fit to live well in the
world. We generally find men holding two opinions regarding the world. Some are
pessimists and say, “How horrible this world is, how wicked!” Some others are
optimists and say, “How beautiful this world is, how wonderful!” To those who
have not controlled their own minds, the world is either full of evil or at
best a mixture of good and evil. This very world will become to us an
optimistic world when we become masters of our own minds. Nothing will then
work upon us as good or evil; we shall find everything to be in its proper
place, to be harmonious.
The more we grow in love and virtue and holiness,
the more we see love and virtue and holiness outside. All condemnation of
others really condemns ourselves. Adjust the microcosm (which is in your power
to do) and the macrocosm will adjust itself for you. It is like the Hydrostatic
paradox, one drop of water can balance the universe. We cannot see outside what
we are not inside. The universe is to us what the huge engine is to the
miniature engine; and indication of any error in the tiny engine leads us to
imagine trouble in the huge one.
Every step that has been really gained in the world
has been gained by love; criticizing can never do any good, it has been tried
for thousands of years. Condemnation accomplishes nothing.
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