See what gossip does.
It begins with evil thought, and that in itself is a crime. For in everyone and
in everything there is good; in everyone and in everything there is evil.
Either of these we can strengthen by thinking of it, and in this way we can
help or hinder evolution; we can do the will of the Logos or we can resist Him.
If you think of the
evil in another, you are doing at the same time three wicked things:
(1) You
are filling your neighbourhood with evil thought instead of with good thought,
and so you are adding to the sorrow of the world.
(2) If
there is in that man the evil which you think, you are strengthening it and
feeding it; and so you are making your brother worse instead of better. But
generally the evil is not there, and you have only fancied it; and then your
wicked thought tempts your brother to do wrong, for if he is not yet perfect
you may make him that which you have thought him.
(3) You
fill your own mind with evil thoughts instead of good; and so you hinder your
own growth, and make yourself, for those who can see, an ugly and painful
object instead of a beautiful and lovable one.
Not content with
having done all this harm to himself and to his victim, the gossip tries with
all his might to make other men partners in his crime. Eagerly he tells his
wicked tale to them, hoping that they will believe it; and then they join with
him in pouring evil thought upon the poor sufferer. And this goes on day after
day, and is done not by one man but by thousands. Do you begin to see how base,
how terrible a sin this is? You must avoid it altogether. Never speak ill of
any one; refuse to listen when any one else speaks ill of another, but gently
say: "Perhaps this is not true, and even if it is, it is kinder not to
speak of it”.
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