(Synopsis of a lecture given by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on October 24, 2009, in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, India)
In Prem Ras Madira there is a pad, Maan Man, Chadu Maan Apamaan, “Oh mind! Accept what I say. Don’t engage in disputes over honor and insult.” Even though this is not a Vedic verse, it is very important to understand for one’s devotional practice.
There are two obstacles in our devotional path. One is maan, the desire to be respected or honored, and the other is apamaan, the aversion to being disrespected or insulted. If we understand both of these and try to control them, our devotional progress will speed up considerably.
What is maan? Our sense of pride or ego. It is our desire that others should respect and honor us. When we are praised by others we feel happy. If someone says, “You are very generous.” Externally we answer, “I am not worthy of such praise.” But internally we feel, “This person is a very good. He is speaking highly of me!” Although externally we are saying we don’t deserve praise, internally our feelings are just the opposite.
On the other hand, when someone disrespects or insults us, we lose our equanimity. We become angry, our feelings get hurt and our hearts burn from within. But why is this so? Just reflect on this when you are alone: what fault do you not possess? Name a single fault that you don’t have. From time to time you are lustful, angry, greedy, deluded, and jealous. You have animosity for others, you lie, cheat, boast, and deceive others – all to fulfill your selfish desires. Everyone does this, from the most illiterate person to the most intelligent. Why is this?
The first reason is that we are under the control of Maya. The second reason is that we desire spiritual happiness. Because we are under the control of Maya, we are ignorant. We identify ourselves with our physical bodies. Our desire for happiness is also natural, and to attain that happiness we are capable of doing anything. We will lie, cheat, and deceive even our own parents, siblings and spouses. You even do this with your own Guru, what to speak of others? Your Guru is the one from whom your greatest self-interest could be gained, but you do not even spare him.
If the Guru utters just one sentence to you, “Why did you do that?” You immediately make excuses, “Guru Ji, it is like this, it is like that…” What are you actually saying to Guru Ji in this situation? “What you are saying is incorrect! I didn’t do anything wrong.” Why do we do this?
This is due to pride. We have spent our entire lives thinking of how to make sure that no one speaks ill of us. We have accumulated knowledge and acted in such a way so that people speak well of us. We keep on asking ourselves, “What should I say to deceive that person? How can I create a good impression so I can get what I want from him?” This is all we have done. We haven’t attempted to become good, we rather only wanted to be called good. What is the use of merely being called good?
There are politicians who claim, “I am a public servant. I serve the masses.” But do they serve the public or their own pockets? They act like they are sacrificing so much because they spend millions of rupees to be elected to their posts as public servants. The moment a person is elected, all he does is try to make that one million into two million. This is the extent of his service to the public. “I work for the welfare of others!” The welfare of others? When even Indra, the king of the celestial abodes, is unable to work for the welfare of others, what will an ordinary mortal do? Everyone simply wants his own happiness, and will perform every kind of good and bad action to attain it.
So the desire for respect and honor is a very serious ailment, as is our aversion to being disrespected. If anyone should speak against us, we immediately get angry, and when that happens, our discriminative thinking comes to an end. So our aversion to disrespect is also a major obstacle in our devotion, but disrespect will always happen in the world. This being the case, how could anyone avoid being disrespected? Even God realised Saints aren’t spared being criticised. Detractors say, “He just keeps on saying ‘Hare Ram’ all day long. We have to stop him. Let’s discredit him by spreading some rumours about him.”
History bears witness to what we have done to Saints from the time of Prahlad up to the time of Meera. What has not been done to oppose Saints? But no one thinks of the harm they are causing themselves by doing this. They just end up destroying themselves. Their precious human birth is taken away from them because of these serious spiritual transgressions.
So the simple fact is that as long as you are under the control of Maya, you will have every fault and these faults will remain with you in the future.
(Continued in Part 2)
© Radha Govinda Samiti and Bhakti Bliss
Thank you for this gem.
Thank you.
Thank you so much. I use to listen and read but every time but I forget when the actual situation comes, so I think this is the great way to keep in touch for repitition.
So happy to read this…i remember i was there in Managarh then…thank you