7. VICES
When a person believing that the internal vices like sensual desire, anger, greed, delusion etc. can be eliminated only from the one whom God blesses; does not make proper - justified positive efforts to eliminate them and utters such feeble words in front of others also, then he makes injustice to himself as well as to others too. According to Lord Swaminarayan, a person who utters feeble words is like a bad companion amongst the pious group of saints and devotees -'The Satsang.'
When compromise settlement is done with the inner defects, considering that the inner defects exist naturally in everybody, then those vices can never be conquered.
With intention to get renowned in society if the worshipper pretends to be innocent and shows as if he is possessing all virtues inspite of possessing vices, then such a worshipper certainly, is inviting downfall.
The person having a narrow vision that "everybody possesses vices only", can never absorb good qualities leaving aside the vices from others.
When the defects of a person, who is an egoist are shown in front of others, then he feels insulted and creates rancour towards the person who has shown the defects. Whereas a true worshipper will try to improve within oneself in such circumstances.
The progress of person slows down because many a times he does not have the trust that alike noble persons God also, in divine form, can help.
The one, in whom anger, disgust or disappointment is not developed towards his own short comings and defects, cannot improve himself.
A worshipper, who avoids the path shown by saints and follows a short, speedy, newly invented path based on physical science, has to suffer more obstacles and disturbances and at the end fails.This is because the path shown by holy persons is verified by experience and is real whereas the worshipper’s own path is imaginary and false.
The one who starts justifying his own defects for self-defence becomes partial, stubborn and obstinate.
Even during incomplete state of less worthiness if there exists a little desire for respect, reputation etc. then this desire becomes strong when more worthiness is achieved. This becomes a big obstacle in the progress of a worshipper.
Unless and until a worshipper does not make the knowledge accumulated by reading the scriptures as his subject of experience, his progress in that direction is not possible.
The one who cannot discriminate between significant and insignificant sense of subject properly proves to be unsuccessful as his time and energy are wasted.
One should be concerned about not developing vanity due to over confidence and over optimism. To be saved from the defect in the form of vanity, every thing should be dedicated to God. "All qualities and strength are His, nothing is mine, He is everything and I am nothing." Such dedicated feelings should be made firm.
A person who turns his face from sincere efforts and hard work, and shows escapism (desires cowardly to be saved from efforts and labour) cannot proceed on the path shown by Holy person; and remains where he is.
Inspite of harsh language and rude behaviour, a person is not conscious about it. This is a major defect. This defect creates many problems for him.
The inner vices cannot be completely demolished without experiencing manifestation of the divine form of Parmatma, the Supreme Lord.
When the subject of spiritual knowledge pertaining to the Supreme Lord is limited upto our objective of fulfilling some self interest on this world and when the objective is completed, that subject becomes secondary; then it is a major defect for a worshipper. This defect should be eliminated with all efforts.
The inner vices like sensuality, anger, greed, delusion, ego etc. are conquered but the manifestation of the form of God is not attained within the soul, till then if the worshipper remains careless and doesn’t remain alert and instead believes that, "I am totally unaffected, nothing can hinder me" -such belief is nothing else than an illusion and is a major defect. This defect must be eliminated with total awareness.