Articles for Saadhana

Harih Om Tat Sat. Jai Guru.

Sreemad Bhagavadgeeta, 12th chapter, is actually a discussion on devotion. The chapter consists of only 20 verses and it concludes with a description of devotees. What are the lakṣaṇas or characteristics of the devotees? Krishna, with almost every verse, adds at the end that such a devotee is dear to me. It is not enough that if anyone claims ‘I am a devotee’. Whether the devotee is one whom God likes and is pleased with is an important consideration. When you apply this standard, I think a number of improvements will have to be made in all of you, in everyone. One point I thought of mentioning today.

That devotee is a good devotee whom the world does not feel unhappy with, perplexed with, or disturbed by. In other words, the devotee’s behavior should be such that at no point of time it has any trait which is disturbing or uncomfortable to the world. What will be his behavior, the manner in which lives, he dresses, he talks, he interacts with the people, moves about, and the type of undertaking that he does. In all these things there should not be anything repulsive to the society. This can have a larger circle relevance and also a closer circle relevance.

Suppose you are living with a group of people, parallely other group of devotees. Each devotee should be pleasing to the others, not displeasing to the others. I think that this is a very good standard that you can adopt and pursue successfully, provided you try. I would like every one of you to think. Why don’t you ask the people around, “Are you happy with my behavior - the manner in which I talk? Whatever I do - are you happy with me? Or is there any improvement or alteration to be made?” I think this quest should always be there in you. So the world should not, the people should not feel repelled or uncomfortable with whatever you are and whatever you do. That is one.

Secondly, you should also be not repelled by what the society does around. At no point of time is any society going to be perfect. A society will always be an assortment of people. Assortment becomes full when all kinds of people are there. There must be Duryodhanas, there must be Ravanas, there must be Harischandras, Ramas, there must be Sisupalas, Dantavaktas – all of them should be there. When I was describing the fight between Dantavakra and Krishna, Dantavakra, on seeing Krishna, started shouting and yelling at him. “Yes, after a long wait, I have got you. Be prepared to receive what I give you.” And he started becoming very angry and went to Krishna with a club. And you know Dantavakra administered the first blow on Krishna’s head. Krishna in return, and even before, said, “Don’t blabber like this. You deserve to be punished and I will give you the right punishment.” But before giving it Krishna received what he gave. With a huge club, he hit Krishna right on his head. After getting it, normally Krishna would have been more excited and more angry also, so to say seemingly, and then Krishna hit him on the chest, and Dantavakra fell. What do you understand from this? We need a Dantavakra; we need a Sisupala; we need all kinds of people. Not that we need, the world needs. So the society will always be an assortment. In the assortment, everything from the best to the worst will be there. And the devotees' success is to understand this complexity and be in harmony with everything.

There is a proverb in English which says, “The world needs everyone.” All kinds of people are required to constitute the world’s variety. You will find ample variety in this world. While you should not be repelled by the assorted nature of the society, your behavior should not give room for others to say, “This is not alright.” I think this is a very good test paper for everyone of you. Unless there is mutuality, complementariness between the people, I don’t think any place can become happy and comfortable. I think this is something that everyone of you should seriously take up, think about and arrive at your own conclusions. Why don’t you try to get yourself evaluated by the others around, rather than becoming irritable and intolerant. It is better to be harmonious with all the others. This harmony alone will bring about mutuality.

I am afraid that many of you are not understanding this principle and also not striving to become mutual with the others. Any place or any institution cannot be with a single individual. There will be a number of people and many people means a variety of characters, a variety of behavioral patterns, interactional styles etc. And by seeing many, we get an opportunity to improve in the manner in which we feel is the best. So I think it is a very good opportunity, provided you can think about it. Do not be rigid to say that I am right and the others are wrong. It can never be. So think about it.

The particular verse is:

The second line is particularly applicable only to your mind, others are not concerned there.

Harih Om Tat Sat. Jai Guru.