Way of The Seekers — Page 115
115 THE alleged to suffer is the one who gives currency to the evil. To denounce people as vicious, makes them vicious. Such slanderers are national enemies. They should be opposed and resisted. They should not be permitted to spread obscenity and calumniate the nation. On the other hand, it is also true that a nation that becomes heedless also perishes. The correct method, therefore, is to bring each alleged evil to the notice of the proper authorities. If, on investigation, the report is found to be well-founded, it is for the authorities to take appropriate steps to combat the evil. When I prepared the notes for this address I had to revise my original estimate that one meeting would suffice for the address and came to think that it would take two days to complete it. But at the end of the second day, I find that there are forty points which still remain to be discussed. If God so wills, they may be incorporated in the printed version or they may be discussed on some other occasion. These forty points deal with the question: How to become virtuous? A Prayer of the Promised Messiah I shall conclude this address with a quotation from the Promised Messiah (on him be peace). In this quotation which I shall presently read, he has given expression to anguish and concern that if we fail to become truly virtuous, we shall betray the purpose for which this community has been founded, and we would not become heirs to divine grace. We should, therefore, strive to develop the qualities that have been enjoined upon us by the Promised Messiah (on him be peace). I hope that those friends who have listened to this address and taken down notes will put all these methods of self-improvement into practice, so that we might demonstrate to the world that in our conduct also we continue unmatched. The truth is that unless every one of us is saintly in his conduct, we cannot bring about a spiritual revolution and the salvation of the world cannot be achieved. We should remember that we have to fight not only prevalent evils but also the strong current of evil thinking. We have to fight the swollen river of evil thinking that is surging everywhere. Ours