Bhagawan says, “Tell me your company and I shall tell you what you are”. It is our company that decides our destiny! In this posting, Bhagawan highlights the importance of maintaining a good company. He describes at length the negative consequences of getting into bad company. He draws a number of analogies to drive home the impact of thoughts on our mind, body and consequent behaviour.
Going up or coming down depends on one’s company |
Though human life is sacred, good and bad get into one’s life based on one’s company. When iron is in the company of dust it gets rusted. However, the same iron when put into fire, the rust is got rid off and it becomes red hot and soft. The dust in the company of air goes up into the sky, but the very same dust in the company of water goes down. The dust has no wings to fly high nor does it have legs to go down. Going up or coming down depends on the company.
Tell me your company, I shall tell you what you are |
In bad company, man develops bad feelings and bad actions. For all this thought is the main cause. Thoughts should be pure and sacred. But man entertains bad feelings and thoughts at a tender age and wastes his life thereafter. Iron in the company of rust becomes dust. It then bursts and it has to be subject to test. Only then it gets rest! This is the goal. So first the rust should be wiped out. Bad company and bad feelings are the rust. All these are the result of bad company. Tell me your company and I shall tell you what you are.
Bad thoughts will put you to great misery |
Bad thoughts are the main cause for our misery. Therefore, we need to discriminate – are these good thoughts or bad thoughts. Bad thoughts put you into difficulties. Hurting others, causing harm to others is very bad. But eventually it will rebound in a still worse way on you. Bad thoughts are not natural to mankind. When a stone is thrown into a well, the ripples spread across the water. Similarly when a thought is pelted into the lake of the human mind, it will spread all across the body. It will enter the eyes and make the looks bad. So too with the ears, mouth, hands, legs and all parts of the body. These bad thoughts will make all the sense organs act badly. So you will be put to great misery.
Saints and animals live peacefully and harmoniously |
Sages and saints meditate in thick forests in the midst of wild animals. Many cruel and wild animals move around. However, these saints have no pistols or rifles or any other weapons. These saints and animals live peacefully and harmoniously. Looking at these animals the saints are not afraid nor are the animals frightened of the saints. This is because of the pure love in the saints. This makes an impact on the animals. Therefore, as is the company so is the effect. If we develop good company we will have good qualities.
Man can attain Divine qualities only though good company |
Therefore influence of the company depends upon what actions one engages in.