Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/530

 were made of keeping his mother with himself in Calcutta.

FormFrom [sic] this, it is apparent that Vidyasagar was not well disposed towards the Hindu system of joint family. It was not his innate fault. It was his English education that produced in him this failing. It was his want of insight that led him to meddle with the customs of Hindu Society, which is self-evident from the dismemberment of his joint family. The practice of the Hindu in his own household, in his dealings with Society, and in everything else is conducive to the attainment of spiritual knowledge. EevryEvery [sic] usage, every custom, every practice has been prescribed by the saintly Rishis with a view to enable the common laymen to begin to learn the secrets of the Hindu religion. Joint family is a prominent member of Hindu Society—the principal means of the realisation of Yoga—the royal road to salvation. What is Yoga? It is nothing but union or communion—complete absorption—in Divinity. It is nothing but the combination of one with the other—the conversion of duality into unity. The union of self with the whole world, the annihilation of the universe in self, the feeling of the existence of every external thing in self, this is the high way to redemption for the Hindu. This idea begins in one's own family. It begins between one and one—viz. between preceptor and disciple, or between husband and wife, or between parent and son, or between brother and