4 परमार्थसोपान [Part I tual life. Now we must proceed to consider what moral virtues have to be cultivated before such a spiritual life could be realised. Cultivation of the moral virtues also implies an avoidance of bad quali- ties. Hence arises the necessity of the consideration of the avoidance of vices along with the cultivation of virtues. The first great vice is the company of the wicked; for it is the mother of all the vices. We shall consider with reference to relevant songs from Surdas, Kabir and Charandas the main vices that are to be avoid- ed, and the main virtues that are to be cultivated. One of the most important of such virtues is the company of the good. A real welfare-state is the company of the Saints. In this connection, Nanak tells us how the company of the saints might enable us to have a vision of God. Tulsidas also tells us how all the saints are tied together by the bond of God-love. That, accord- ing to Tulsidas, seems to be the highest virtue. We are further told by Tulsidas in a how God-love is the charioteer who leads the chariot of life to spiri- tual victory. In a couple of others, Tulsidas gives us a vivid description of the distinction between Jnana and Bhakti, the one being compared to a dazzl- ing light, the other to a brilliant jewel. Further, we hear from Surdas the opposition between the way of Knowledge and the way of Devotion, and then a re- conciliation of the two from Tulsidas. Finally, in a fine we are told by Tulsidas how this devotion to God might be compared to a diamond with nine facets, each representing one aspect of God.devotion,
