Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 202
202 his life in the service of humanity. The gulf between his present position and that which he is asked to attain to, would appear insuperable, and he would probably despair of ever becoming a reformed man. But if he were to be told that every step taken towards virtue makes him more virtuous and that if he can not alto- gether renounce vice he should at least feel ashamed of it, he would eagerly follow the suggestion as being practicable and easily attainable. When he begins to feel remorse and is ashamed of his conduct, he can be told that he has achieved the first step towards virtue, for the renouncing of the graver forms of vice is also a form of virtue. The encouragement which he derives from this can be used as an aid towards his further progress on the path of virtue. He can next be told that if he is yet unable to do good, he should at least avoid evil, and should refuse to act upon the evil promptings and suggestions of his mind, so that he should not by his evil deeds cause pain or unpleasantness to others. He will find this easier than the first stage, and when he has accomplished this he will be more than ever eager to advance towards virtue and to renounce his former career of vice. His mind will still be liable to evil thoughts, but, can anybody doubt that he will have attained a certain stage of virtue, for he will be con- stantly advancing towards it and will have renounced the greater portion of his vices? He may then be asked to take the next step and to cleanse his mind of evil thoughts and to shun all impurity and vice. This will surely be much easier for him than the first two stages and when he has accomplished this, his mind will be