Life Without Conflict Life Without Conflict | Page 30

Life Without Conflict
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to others what you like to receive yourself. Do not do to others
what you would not like done to you. If someone tells you,
“You are a good man,” you should tell him, “Sir, you too are
a good man.” If you speak in this manner, it is acceptable.
This entire worldly life is meant for settling past karmic
accounts. Any situation that will create vengeance will have to
be settled through your becoming a mother-in-law, a wife, a
son, or even an ox. You may pay twelve hundred dollars for an
ox and it may die the very, next day. Endless life cycles have
passed in revenge. Vengeance is the reason you wander life
after life in this world. That is why your liberation is impeded.
Hindus create enmity in their own homes whereas Muslims
quarrel outside of their home; they never create enmity at home.
They know they cannot afford to fight with those with whom
they have to share the same room with at night. The art of living
is to not create enmity with anyone and to become free. That
is the very reason some renounce worldly life and run away
from their worldly problems. However, one cannot run away
from their responsibilities in this manner. From the day of birth,
one’s life becomes a battle, which needs to be faced. Rather
than overcoming life’s battles, people fall prey to the luxuries
and comforts of the world.
Maintain equanimity when interacting with those around
you, whether it is inside or outside your home, the office, or in
the public. At home, when you are served food you do not like,
accept it gracefully. Do not aggravate anyone. Eat whatever
food is served to you on your plate. What is in front of you is
an event and if you push it away, you will be the one who will
have to pay for it. Therefore, when I am served food I do not
like, I take at least two bites. If you do not, you will start a
conflict with food itself and with the person who prepared and
brought it to you. The food will question, “What wrong have I
done? I have come to you. Why are you are insulting me? Eat