Better face a danger once than be always in fear. -MAXIM. The absent danger greater still appears, And less he fears, who 's near the thing he fears. -DANIEL. Yet needless dangers never madly brave, 'Tis wisdom to beware, And better shun the bait than struggle in the snare. -DRYDEN. All difficulties are but easy, when they are known. -SHAKESPEARE. HYMN. (In times of distress and danger.) Oh God, that madest earth and sky, the darkness and the day, Give ear to this Thy family, and help us when we pray! For wide the waves of bitterness around our vessel roar, And heavy grows the pilot's heart to view the rocky shore ! -R. HEBER. 34. DAY AND HOW TO PASS IT. For all thy wondrous mercies past, My grateful voice I raise; While thus I quit the bed of rest, -HANNA MORE. When first thy eyes unveil, give thy soul leave The spirit's duty: true hearts spread and heave, Give him thy first thoughts then, so shalt thou keep -H. VAUGHAN. About a couple of hours before sunrise, pious men should be up on their legs, Should shake off sleep and pray to God, saying "Thou art but one, Oh Lord!" The ascetics should look to religious meditation, love and pleasure the worldly should forego; Those learned in the Vedas should contemplate the Vedas, the Vaishnavas should worship the deity Krishna. Poets should begin to compose good poems, the generous should give charitable gifts; A virtuous wife should wait upon her husband and attend to his commands. Each one should mind one's own proper duties, bearing in mind the mysterious law of action; Oh men and women! worship devoutly the Lord of poet Narsinha and you will be free from the shackles of frequent births. -NARSINHA MEHTA.* Morning comes, the nurse of all, Oh, sacred is the eventide, And holy is the twilight hour; And he may commune with his God, HOW TO PASS THE DAY. Arise early; serve God devoutly, and the world. busily; do thy work wisely; give thine alms secretly; go by the way gravely; answer the people demurely; go to thy meat appetitely; sit thereat discreetly; of thy tongue be not too liberal; arise therefrom temperately. Go to thy supper soberly, and to thy bed merrily and sleep surely. -DAME JULIA BARNES. * A Gujarati poet. From Specimens of Old Indian Poetry by Griffith, from Mrs. Manning's Ancient and Mediaeval India. DAILY DUTIES OF AN ARYA. 1. Have the habit of rising before sunrise, do not lie idly in bed after sleep has left you, but at once go to answer the call of nature, then cleanse the teeth, and taking your ablutions worship God. (This practice will promote health, and elevate the soul and the mind). 2. Study good works. 3. Perform a "Havan"* in the house daily, and, if not, at least once a week. 4. Always look after the health, actions, and education of your own children and those around you. 5. Exercise the body every day in proportion to its powers. 6. Always go out for a walk in the pure open air either in the morning or in the evening. 7. Be Be every morning remembering the God that is within you and that awards fruits according to your actions (so that you may be saved from evil deeds.) 8. Every morning think upon the frailty of life and the unsubstantial nature of the world. (This will direct you towards performing your duties.) 9. At night every day before going to bed, recollect how often you told lies, and how and whom you injured during the day: and then take a solemn vow, regarding God as the witness, that you will never repeat such misdeeds: and if possible make a note of such actions and such vows in your diary, and read it daily. * The burning of prescribed articles in a consecrated fire for purposes of purification. If you daily practise this, ere long you will make an excellent type of man. -SWAMI ATMANANDJI.* The day begun with serious reflection and prayer, and ended with self-examination and prayer, will most probably be spent as every day should be. -REV. DR. CARPENTER. The day is immeasurably long to him who knows not how to value and use it. . -GOETHE. King Alfred the Great, who is looked upon as a pattern of all kingly and private virtues had apportioned work for every hour, and it was his rule to do the appointed work at the appointed hour. He had divided the whole day into three parts, each of 8 hours. He had allotted eight hours to sleep, dinner, and exercise, even though he might be in the clutches of a cruel disease; but of the remaining 16 hours, he devoted 8 hours to reading, writing and praying; and the remaining 8 hours to official work. Because time is not a trifling thing; is not one which should be spent uselessly; but it is a great gift of God, and we ought to give an account for it to the Donor. That great man thus constantly thought of time. Six hours in sleep, in law's grave study six, → An Âryan Philosopher. |
