The Third Chapter

     FIRST keep peace with yourself; then you will be able to bring peace to others. A peaceful man
does more good than a learned man. Whereas a passionate man turns even good to evil and is quick
to believe evil, the peaceful man, being good himself, turns all things to good.

     The man who is at perfect ease is never suspicious, but the disturbed and discontented spirit is
upset by many a suspicion. He neither rests himself nor permits others to do so. He often says what
ought not to be said and leaves undone what ought to be done. He is concerned with the duties of
others but neglects his own.

     Direct your zeal, therefore, first upon yourself; then you may with justice exercise it upon those
about you. You are well versed in coloring your own actions with excuses which you will not accept
from others, though it would be more just to accuse yourself and excuse your brother. If you wish
men to bear with you, you must bear with them. Behold, how far you are from true charity and
humility which does not know how to be angry with anyone, or to be indignant save only against
self!

     It is no great thing to associate with the good and gentle, for such association is naturally
pleasing. Everyone enjoys a peaceful life and prefers persons of congenial habits. But to be able
to live at peace with harsh and perverse men, or with the undisciplined and those who irritate us,
is a great grace, a praiseworthy and manly thing.

     Some people live at peace with themselves and with their fellow men, but others are never at
peace with themselves nor do they bring it to anyone else. These latter are a burden to everyone,
but they are more of a burden to themselves. A few, finally, live at peace with themselves and try
to restore it to others.

     Now, all our peace in this miserable life is found in humbly enduring suffering rather than in
being free from it. He who knows best how to suffer will enjoy the greater peace, because he is the
conqueror of himself, the master of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven.

     Prabuddha Bharata>>>

     Vedanta Kesari>>>