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Full text of "Sri Sai Baba`S:Charters And Sayings"

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268   TALKS ON u AT THE FEET OP THE MASTER"

talk is unnecessary and foolish. So much of what we
say is not really necessary.  Now I know that
sometimes what I suppose we must- say is unnecessary
talk is nevertheless spoken with intent to please, with
intent to help the time to pass pleasantly for some one,
and so on. That is the custom, perhaps the unfortunate
custom of our period, that we try to pass a great
deal of time in talking which really might be em-
ployed much more profitably in thinking. But there
may be, and I think there must be, legitimately, times
when we say things that are not strictly and absolutely
necessary just in order to please other people, who
would misunderstand us if we were persistently silent.
Yet you know quite well that, apart from and
outside that, there is a great deal of ve^ry unnecessary
talk done, and a great deal is said which does not
fall under that head at all, apparently just for the
sake of saying something. Now that is a mistake.
When you have a real friend, a friend whom you
can thoroughly trust, you do not feel it necessary to
be always talking to that friend. You are friendly
enough to be silent together, and yet not to misunder-
stand one another. That is a test of true friendship
—when two people can sit together and be absolutely
silent and yet very much enjoy one another's
company, and realise a community of thought. If, on
the other hand, you are in a condition where you are
afraid of gaps in the conversation, so that you must
keep on talking, then there will be, unfortunately, a