IN EVERYDAY LIFE, A VIRTUE ALSO HAS TO BE PRACTISED WITH DISCRIMINATION.

IN EVERYDAY LIFE, A VIRTUE ALSO HAS TO BE PRACTISED WITH DISCRIMINATION.

There was with one gentleman a clever, faithful and hardworking servant of long standing. He did not have to be told to perform any task, and he had a knack of per­forming several tasks bunched together. He was liked by

everyone and he used to look after all the household trans­actions including those relating to money matters. His employer had become old. One day his condition wors­ened, and he was on the point of death. The eldest son called the faithful servant and said to him, 'Go and fetch the doctor immediately.¹ The servant went to the doctor. He gave him the message. He even saw that the doctor was on his way. But he himself returned quite late. When the son asked him the reason for being late, he showed him the material with him which was meant for a fu­neral, and said, "At the very time of going to the doctor I had become aware of the situation. So, to kill two birds with one stone, I brought along this material in the same trip." The son did not know whether to laugh or to cry. After telling this story, ShriMaharaj said, "In everyday affairs, there are restrictions of time and place on the practice of every virtue. If these restrictions are not ob­served, the virtue becomes a vice.
 For attainment of God, however, an excess that may take place in the practice of any means is beneficial, and also necessary."