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Fiery World - Book 1 (1933) - 563:
563. Today is a difficult day, therefore, I shall narrate a tale. "A certain demon decided to tempt a pious woman. Dressing himself as a sadhu, the demon entered the hut of the woman, counting his beads. He asked for shelter, and the woman not only invited him in and set food before him but asked him to join her in prayer. The demon, the better to succeed, decided to accede to all her requests. They began to pray. Then the woman asked him to tell her about the lives of the saints, and the demon began to recite like the best of sadhus. The woman rose to such ecstasy that she sprinkled the entire hut with holy water, and naturally sprinkled some over the demon himself. Then she proposed to the demon that they perform the pranayama together, and gradually she developed such a power that finally the demon was unable to leave the hut and remained to serve the pious woman and to learn the best prayers. A Rishi, passing by the hut, looked in, and seeing the demon in prayer joined him in praise to Brahma. Thus all three sat around the hearth, chanting the best prayers. Thus a simple woman, through her devotion, impelled a demon and a Rishi to sing in praise together. But in the Highest Dwelling Places this cooperation occasioned no horror, only smiles. Thus even a demon can be compelled to join in prayer." AUM (1936) - 70:
70. The surroundings at home likewise impose an imprint on one's whole life. Even the poorest hut would not outrage the spiritual feeling. It should not be presumed that futility of life is not noticed by children, on the contrary, they feel keenly the structure of all their everyday life; therefore, prayer lives best in a clean home. Supermundane - The Inner Life - Book 1 (1938) - 194:
"Do not be deluded by the bright fires that burn in the hiding-places of corruption. Let him who has eyes see what goes on there. Search for joy, and do not be surprised if you find it in a hut.
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