Life Supreme — Page 57
60. LIFE SUPREME are not available. Tea and coffee drinking has become a national habit in many countries although neither in themselves contain any food value. Housewives sip innumerable cups of tea throughout the day then wonder why their nerves are on edge. Tobacco is another poison which casts its deadly effects upon the nerves and organs of the body; and neither does the soul escape its lethal fumes. The smoker and the chewer of tobacco live with frayed nerves making them susceptible to headaches and outbursts of irritability especially when the poisonous weed is not available to alleviate their self-imposed agony. Self mastery is the golden key to spiritual progress; and the old adage is still true that he who can conquer himself is greater than he who can conquer a city. . When irritable, people are inclined to say and do things on the spur of the moment which they later regret; but harsh words and wrong actions often cannot be retrieved. Bitter words carve indelible impressions on the minds of others. A careless outburst of invective has estranged the best of friends, husbands and wives, parents and children. The thread which binds together human relationships is extremely brittle. It wears, tears and snaps with ease. There is the authentic case of a man and woman who celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. One week later they sued for divorce. . The irritable person lives in the fire of hell. He who desires to walk with the saints must master his passions; and irritability is one of them. LAZINESS 'O Godi I seek Thy protection against want of means and laziness. ' (Holy Prophet). Laziness witholds progress in any endeavour; and in spiritual development there is no exception. . Sleep and rest are essential for health and efficiency. Eight hours of sleep daily has been recommended as ideal although many prefer to do with less. Many of the world's great geniuses spent half their nights absorbed in work. Napoleon once said that twenty two hours out of twenty four ought to be usefully employed. He lived his life to the full in which he accomplished herculean exploits through sleepless labour as the following incident reveals: 'An officer, entering his (Napoleon's) room a couple of