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world was a way to self-evolution. Now I understand that this way of thinking reflects poor sense control, which leads to disrespectful thoughts and actions. I seled on the idea of leing my sideburns grow extra long to affirm my right to unrestricted freedom.
As mentioned, Swami discoursed nightly to students about self-control. He said that they should not look like monkeys, wear long hair and tight pants, and blindly follow transient animal-like fads. Hearing this simple truth caused me to struggle. It is hard for me to imagine now that I could have resisted such a basic lesson in neat grooming. I guess that hair had become a symbol of my identity. Swami’s loving influence, however, prompted me to exert more self-control and to cut my long sideburns a lile shorter.
By that time, I had made a friend who helped guide me through the unfamiliar daily activities at the ashram. Soon aer I cut my sideburns, Swami approached my friend while
I was not present and whispered, “I see your friend is learning,” referring to my sideburns. I was impressed by his awareness of such a small change in my behavior. Evidently, even small inner changes have profound effects on our spiritual development.
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