Today, only a friend who is one in a million can help you walk on the right path. Otherwise, everyone is looking to exploit and control others. This is the nature of friendship today, whether a boy or a girl. He/she will make you a friend & then make you subordinate to fulfil his/her desires. This is called friendship these days.
Importance of Character and Purity
That is why I tell young brothers and sisters that friendship is not a fault; it is not a fault to be friendly, but who makes friendship? Here, it’s not friendship but enmity that’s emerging. The person we consider a friend corrupts our character, plays with our thoughts, and takes our life on the path of degradation. Is he our friend? Whether he is a boy or a girl. I don’t think he/she is a friend. I say, do friendship. It is not prohibited. Make friendship, but keep your friend sacred. Keep your friendship sacred. Friendship doesn’t mean playing with sensual desires. Friendship does not mean arbitrary conduct. If a friend is slipping, then hold him. No, we both are friends; we have to follow a path; we are still students, and we have to get good titles. If our friendship remains safe, we will get married; only then will I have a worldly relationship with you; otherwise, it cannot be like this. Which boy or girl is considerate of this?
I feel that it is God’s great blessing on you that you are careful. God is the only one who is our true friend, and we should take shelter in Him and live in such a system where our bodies and minds are safe. Nowadays, in the environment, a lot of wrong thinking has spread. In many fields where boys & girls aspire to make progress, they develop a lot of weaknesses. Forget about worldly progress; they lose their inner strength and lose themselves.
Stay safe, and take shelter in God; God is very kind and has such company, which is good for the character. The person who intends to corrupt your character can never be your friend. Remember that anyone who thinks of corrupting your character, be it a boy or a girl, cannot be your friend; he is a deceiver; he will only pretend to love you for some time, and he will betray you. He will become a dangerous friend to you because he has become your solitary friend, a personal friend. Therefore, you should be very careful about the friends you make these days. These friendships that are being made these days have a lot of flaws; they should be rectified.
I am not asking to not make friends. Now you are going to school, you and your friend laugh, play & talk but maintain a limit, look at your character, look at your piousness. If there is even the slightest wrong gesture towards us, a wrong touch, we should avoid it; how can he be a friend? We should avoid it, but nowadays, children do not even think we should be careful.
When you do naam jap (chanting of the holy names of God), your intellect will be purified, and then you will understand whether I am going wrong or right. At least our driver (mind) should not be drunk. If the mind is intoxicated due to lust, anger, greed, and pride, it will destroy us. We should be careful. Till marriage, if you are pure, it is very good; your life ahead will be fine, and you will love each other, but if you have already corrupted your love, then your family will not be peaceful, and your life will be disturbed.
Being Pure and Chanting The Holy Name of God
Everyone desires that if I get a wife, she should be supremely pure; if I get a husband, then he should be supremely pure, but we do not think about ourselves. Are we supremely pure? If not, then how will we talk about it? We all should first purify our conduct. Till we go into a married life, we should remain celibate. Make friends; there is no problem in being friends. Brothers and sisters live in the same house, and the lustful feeling doesn’t torment us. Can’t we remain friendly like this? Is it necessary to pollute the character, or is it necessary that you do unethical conduct? So, I feel that you should be very careful.
Purify your character, serve the nation, serve the society. One who becomes characterless has his self-confidence weakened. The most precious thing in life is a character that cannot be regained in life. This is what our children are not understanding. If you lose money, you can earn it again. But if your character is corrupted, there is no solution. If the character is gone, everything is gone. Our country sings the virtuous principles & teachings of Lord Ram; we worship good character. Be of good character.
Be careful, child; God is with you; keep chanting “Radha Radha.” I have seen since childhood that when you walk on this path, God supports you at every step. If someone wants to cheat you, if you chant the name of God, it will come into your mind to avoid them. It will come from inside. Avoid this man. Whenever I saw in childhood that there was a chance of getting trapped somewhere, God came immediately, telling me to run away. God brought me to my destination.
Those who turn away from God are punished as the result of their deeds (karma), and for those who are dependent on God, no one can harm them because God is their protector. Therefore, keep your mind pure, chant the name, take shelter of God and associate with people who protect you from bad company. If there is bad company, then renounce it. Do it because bad people will drag you into bad company.
A Note To Parents
Wherever situations of corrupting your character arrive, share it with your parents. Every child should share his situation with his parents, and parents should have friendly love for their children. I have prayed several times to parents not to rebuke their children and not avoid and disregard them. These are new children; they may make mistakes. Explain to them with love and help them out of their mistakes.
Often, children get trapped in problems and hesitate to share them with their loved ones. They don’t know what to do. My request is to both the parents & children. My request is to the guardian of the house that when the child reaches the age of 14 and above, they should at least be given 10 minutes when you are friendly with them in 24 hours. Give them 10 minutes, or if you work outside, then come and sit with them for two to four days, understand their problem, and give them love so they can talk to you openly, and their solution will be found. New children are full of enthusiasm and may go on the wrong path. If you are there, then you can explain to them; you can explain through your experiences.
Original Question: I will study abroad; how should I avoid bad company?
Answer by – Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Ji Maharaj
Answered on – 07.02.2024
