Advice for Missionaries — Page 21
21 have been in vain. Therefore, understand the perspective of the other person. Are they expressing a belief which you also hold to be true? Do not say anything without understanding their point of view. For example, when you discuss re- incarnation, ask them to explain their understanding of what it means and why it is needed. In short, become aware of their actual beliefs by asking the relevant questions before moving forward with the discussion. This will make it easier for you to tackle both their claims as well as their arguments. No worldly power ever exposes state secrets to an enemy; there are laws to prohibit this. Anyone who breaches these laws is indicted [and strictly punished], because doing so exposes weaknesses, and makes the state vulnerable to attack. In the same way, you should identify points of weakness in their argument and then challenge them accordingly. Learn to be proficient and to do more in less time. This is a skill by which an individual can attain high positions. For example, both the labourer and the viceroy work hard. Yet, the former derives a meagre daily wage, while the latter earns a considerable sum. Why this disparity? It is because the viceroy is adept at achieving far more in less time. It is also important to learn how to extract work from others. People in higher