Bad Habits

A man once went to Shri Vinoba Bhave, he sat near his feet, bowed in front of him and said that he has a bad habit of drinking alcohol and wants to get rid of. He requested him to show him the way to eradicate this bad habit as it has ruined his life, his family also is disturbed. He wanted to change and begged swamiji to show him the right path and guide him to come out of this bad habit.

Shree Vinoba Bhave looked at him and told him that why don't you give up drinking wine and liquor. He said he cannot leave it, this habit has badly gheraod me,entangled me, it is not leaving me, can you show me the way. Swamiji said " Come tomorrow to my ashram, then I will tell you the right path."

Next day the man obediently went to swami Vinoba Bhave's ashram. He saw the door was closed. He called up from outside and requested swamiji to open the door. Swamiji replied that he cannot open the door as the pillar of his room is not leaving him, it has badly embraced me,gheraod me. The man was surprised and asked "how can the pillar not leave you, you have to leave the pillar."

Swamiji saod "O.k. then push the door,come inside and help me to get rid of this pillar." The man then saw swamiji leaving the pillar and came towards him and said "Now you know who has to leave the bad habit. It is you who don't want to leave bad habits, habits cannot leave you. You should have that strong urge and will power to get rid of bad habits that make your life miserable. Everything is in your hand but you do not want to make efforts to improve your life. Circumstance, nature , habits are all excuses to not to change yourself.

Firm determination can make your destiny change, not that destiny will change. Habits are our own creations, we can destroy bad habits if we have the willingness.