Once, an Indian and a foreigner
were travelling together in a railway compartment. The
Indian was a chain-smoker. Not only that, he was puffing
the smoke on the face of the foreigner. The foreigner tolerated
it for sometime and when he could not bear it anymore,
he told the Indian, “My dear son! I am not feeling
well. I cannot bear cigarette smoking. If you want to smoke,
please go to the toilet.”
The Indian who was brought up
with modern education replied, “If you cannot tolerate my
smoking a cigarette, you may go to the toilet. I have bought
the cigarette and I will smoke freely. I am at liberty to smoke
and puff the smoke as I please.” Thus, he began quarrelling
with the foreigner.
The foreigner was helpless. After sometime,
he went to the toilet and returned. In the meanwhile,
the Indian student threw out the shoes of the foreigner from
the compartment. The foreigner saw this but thought that it
was not wise to argue with this arrogant boy. He, therefore,
went up to the upper berth and stretched himself.
Now it
was the turn of the Indian boy. He went to the toilet. Before
he returned, the foreigner threw away the coat of the Indian
boy, to teach him a lesson. The boy returned from the
toilet and enquired where his coat was. The foreigner replied that it had gone in search of his shoes, which were
thrown out of the compartment by the boy. Then the boy
realised his mistake.
As you are aware, for everything, there
will be reaction, resound and reflection in this Kali age.
When you speak softly and sweetly to others, you will receive
the same in return. If you are rude to others, others
will also be rude towards you. Every individual, irrespective
of his age and country, must, therefore, speak softly
and sweetly. Whether one is educated or illiterate, one must
speak softly and sweetly. He must have humility.
(From the Divine Discourses of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)
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