During the eight or nine months that I remained jobless at home, I practised on the flute almost ceaselessly……….. It takes a lifetime of effort to master the intricacies of the flute. But I managed to play quite well, to my own satisfaction and that of my father, who secretly admired me very much, though he rarely gave voice to his feelings.
Sometimes he would call me and say, "Idiot! Why don't you play the flute a little now? You are wasting time when you should be practising."
This meant that he wanted to hear me play, but being cursed with shyness, I would pretend to be busy, and annoy him by refusing to play. In our youth, we often deny those we love such small pleasures which we could easily have given. And then we live to regret our thoughtlessness after they are gone and we can reach them no more. Life is a series of such opportunities to share love and joy, wasted and dumped upon the refuse heaps of time.

Source:, Down Memory Lane, Volume 2, p.16, P. Rajagopalachari, 1998, Shri Ram Chandra Mission USA

Q: Do you sometimes dismiss those you love, and not indulge their small pleasures?

Q: How would you like to show your love simply to others? Think of practical examples in your life.

Q: How does this short story relate to Maxim Nine: "Mould your living so as to arouse a feeling of love and piety in others" ?

O, Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life.
We are yet but slaves of wishes
Putting bar to our advancement,
Thou art the only God and power
To bring us up to that stage.