168. Home Sweet Home
A wife sharply abused her husband in the presence of a guest to which he replied, "My dear, you are truly a remarkable woman" and smiled pleasantly. By taking an irrational attitude of entirely adoring the wife's unpardonable behaviour, he dissolved the seeds of contention. The same results can be positively achieved in the same situation by rising to the heights of his manliness and deciding NOT to contribute to irrational behaviour. If he ever succeeds in doing so, that will be last occasion for her outburst and there is a chance of her regretting her own behaviour, whereas in the former case the husband's docility may fuel her temperament.
To put up with another's refractory behaviour is excellent manners; not to be disturbed inwardly by such behaviour is a noble expression of character; to be able to smile at another's lack of culture is strength of personality, all of which will yield good, desirable, social GOOD of domestic peace each at its own level. To conceive the other person's substandard behaviour as a true reflection of what one is inside is a spiritual realisation of rare strength. By invoking the Spirit from such an inner poise, one will be uplifted into Peace that is Shanthi which will abide with him forever.
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