Life Supreme — Page 34
LIFE SUPREME 37 life which may cause him to stumble; and taking heed of their warning signals, prepare himself from falling. If this procedure is given earnest attention and adopted with enthusiasm, it will prove of immense value in meeting the multifarious circumstances of life in a calm and serene manner which is the essence of the tranquil spirit. . Absence of self-control opens the flood gates for the onrush of impatience, irritability, unrest, abuse, resentment, sarcasm, bitterness and a host of other negative traits, all of which are the destroyers of tranquility. They must be conquered. . A list of some everyday occurrences which are liable to cause a person to express irritation now follows. Each one is a warning signal. They should be impressed upon the mind so that they may be recognised immediately as they appear, whereupon immediate mental defensive action should be taken. Each one should be welcomed as a challenge and as an opportunity for developing selfcontrol. Gradually all kinds of disturbing influences will be mastered and composure will reign supreme. . NOISE. Noise is only too often the cause of frayed nerves, bad temper and harsh words. Even in the home and family circle, screeching children and howling babies arouse temper among members of the household. It was amidst such scenes of tumult that the Promised Messiah wrote some of his masterpieces of religious literature without as much as uttering a word of complaint about the noise going on around him. . The Promised Messiah was once suffering from severe headache and he was asked by one of his disciples-Maulvi Abdul Karimwhether he was not disturbed by the noise of the children and servants in the house. He replied that he himself did not like asking them to keep quiet but Maulvi Abdul Karim may do so in a polite manner. On another occasion he was asked how he was able to work so cooly and calmly amidst the household noise whereupon he replied that he did not give heed to it and therefore he was not disturbed. . INTERRUPTION. Annoyance is generally felt and expressed by the person who is interrupted while absorbed in some important and interesting work. . Even the chirping bird, the hovering fly or the buzzing mosquito will