To anyone reading my blogs, I must say that someone really, really mature in thought, and intelligent of age has made some profound comments in the last couple of days that, I thought I might add them as a post, rather than as comments, so that everyone might benefit from the wisdom in print. In abstract, he/she (sounds like he, albeit) says:
Divine love and divine perfection- both principal objectives of the "organisation" and "Brains" are not mutually exclusive..in fact they are complmentary. By Brains I mean creativity, innovation, lateral and out of the box thinking. Ego and motivation of ego is required to convert divinity to human excellence in as much as copper is required to convert pure gold to a fine jewellery. Freedom, and respect are therefore not out of place in a spiritual organisation
To respond:
I really admire these wise thoughts and appreciate your time, and my respect for you has increased manifold. Unfortunately, I always like to respect a name/face that goes behind a wise thought! But I respect your privacy.
To your comment, I would like to note as such:
Honesty is a difficult policy, But, let's face it, freedom and respect are out of place in our organization. But, as I see it, this could actually be Swami's way. In my professional organization, some of the senior people have earned their respect, and consequently, their freedom. I really don't interfere in what they do, as I know that they do what is expected.
But in our spiritual organization, we are marionettes, spanking each other through external strings by higher dictate, while we flog ourselves with internal strings of conscience. When we are not allowed to think even inside the box, I doubt it's worthwhile to think outside it. We are just foot-soldiers, marching like lemmings. Probably that's how Swami is teaching us to crush our ego. Besides, I figure out that, when we are not respected, we feel humiliated. And, according to Sri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, humiliation is actually good for us. It crushes our ego,- which is exactly why we are all here.
When you are an office bearer, and when you are asked not to think, only to act, you submit fully to this assault on the intelligence and asphyxiation of the ego, because, the latter is what Swami wants, though probably not through the former. As long as I am willing to accept that I am to do what is told, in spite of the sheer ludicracy of it all, I am absolved of sin. It may hurt to do some of the things that we are told to, but then, only with personal attachment comes karmic accountability. I would prefer to avoid anything that adds to my already overburdened karma.
Eg. Going back specifically to my choice of succession, I feel personally devastated that my choice was not considered, not because it was my choice, but because i thought i knew the Youth Wing enough to determine that he was the best choice. However, Swami (ultimately) had other ideas. But I can only play silent witness, and maybe that's what I am supposed to do. What is your opinion???
Also, beyond the philosophy, let me ask you a question? How does love function in such a milieu? I am not being cynical (at least this time), I am really asking a question.
Dear Bro Praveen
ReplyDeleteYou have addressed many issues at one go and it will take lot of time to write and explain. So let us take it step by step
1. The Sai Movement is based on absence of anasuya. Let us understand the meaning of this.
2. The difference between any SadGuru and the Lord Sai as the Sadguru
3. All that happens to us in the organisation is a payback of .....
4. Steps in Graduating from Somebody to Nobody to Everyody
5.How Love can function in an environment when we are busy in graduation and getting ground by the payback classes in the organisation
6. How we can be something more than foot soldiers
You asked for it and so you will get it- and a big one!
Volune 12, November 2009 Page 1 Blossoms
ReplyDeleteThe (Sai) movement is based on anasuuya i.e free from asuuya.
Wikipedia says Anasuya (अनसूया), literally meaning free from envy and jealousy......but in a broader sense it means devoid of fault finding eyes. We in the Sai Organisation needs to remember this
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ReplyDelete"There is a certain mindset that always finds fault, even in the best of conditions. Even with the best possible companion, or the most beautiful painting, such people will still find something wrong. That kind of mindset cannot know the sacred knowledge.
Krishna tells Arjuna that he is giving him the Royal Secret, because he is Anasuya. Similarly, Hanuman never saw any fault in Rama. From a distance, even craters cannot be seen. Even on a smooth surface there will be holes. If we are only interested in the holes, we will not see the magnanimity of things. If we are not in Anasuya, knowledge cannot blossom in us. Then there is no point in giving knowledge.
If we look for imperfection we can see imperfection even in Rama and Krishna. If Krishna had been living today then probably there would have been many court cases filed against him for telling lies, stealing etc!
For an enlightened person, if someone drinks or smokes, nothing will happen to his consciousness. In that state, all that he will want is good for everyone, welfare for everyone and happiness on this planet- Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu"
There is a certain mindset that always finds fault, even in the best of conditions. Even with the best possible companion, or the most beautiful painting, such people will still find something wrong. That kind of mindset cannot know the sacred knowledge.
Krishna tells Arjuna that he is giving him the Royal Secret, because he is Anasuya. Similarly, Hanuman never saw any fault in Rama. From a distance, even craters cannot be seen. Even on a smooth surface there will be holes. If we are only interested in the holes, we will not see the magnanimity of things. If we are not in Anasuya, knowledge cannot blossom in us. Then there is no point in giving knowledge.
If we look for imperfection we can see imperfection even in Rama and Krishna. If Krishna had been living today then probably there would have been many court cases filed against him for telling lies, stealing etc!
For an enlightened person, if someone drinks or smokes, nothing will happen to his consciousness. In that state, all that we want is good for everyone, welfare for everyone and happiness on this planet- Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu
We have heard that All is God and all is love. But then what is the purpose of life? If everything is God then where is life heading to? Life is heading towards perfection. We want perfection. There are three kinds of perfection: Perfection in action/work (kriya), perfection in speech (vachan), perfection in feelings/intention (bhaav).
Some people may be very good in their actions but inside they feel very grumpy and angry. Some may lie — ie, their speech is not perfect but they do their jobs right or they feel right. A doctor may tell a patient, ‘‘Don’t worry, your disease will be cured’’, but that may not be true. At times, the intention behind lying is perfect. For example a child asks his mother where his baby brother came from, the mother replies that she bought the baby. The mother’s intentions behind lying is perfect. If someone lies intentionally then the feeling is imperfect, the speech is imperfect and the action will also reflect the same.
Suppose someone makes a mistake and when we look at the mistake we get angry. Then we are no better than the person who has made the mistake, because there the action was imperfect, but here our feelings have become imperfect. Any action will have some flaw. But when the feeling becomes imperfect then it stays for a longer period. The innermost perfection is lost.
Sadhana helps us maintain our centredness and not be shaken by small events. When someone screams at us, their speech is imperfect but let us not assume that their feeling is also imperfect. Let us not see an intention behind other peoples’ mistakes as then, the mind brings in more impurity....
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ReplyDeleteWe should not look for perfection just in actions. You name any action and we can see that that there is a flaw in that action. Even when we give alms or charity, we are bringing down the self-respect of the receiver. But perfection in feeling is possible. Perfection in speech is possible to a great extent and to a greater extent, perfection in action is also possible.
If we give importance to somebody’s anger, greed or jealousy then it’s not only in them but at some point of time it takes a permanent place in our mind as well.
This is what Krishna says in the Gita on several occasions; ‘‘What has happened to your mind? If you nourish these distorted feelings inside you they change from one impurity to another and keep multiplying inside you. Relax and know that you are not the doer.’’
We need to see this whole thing as a drama. That is the only way we can remain in your centre.
In a state of ignorance, imperfection is natural and perfection is an effort. In a state of wisdom or enlightenment, imperfection is an effort; perfection is a compulsion and is unavoidable!
Perfection is taking total responsibility, and total responsibility means knowing that We are the only responsible person in the whole world. When we are in total vairagya (dispassion), we can take care of even trivial and insignificant things with such perfection. Perfection is the very nature of the Enlightened one
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Let us ignore the author's name for the time being. Also please note and some words and texts have been edited, modified and rearranged to focus on the spirit of the message
Praveen We will Stop here for the first Answer. Let us do a short recap of 5 sentences and then proceed to the next point
You can start with the recap
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Sir,
ReplyDeleteThere is enough wisdom in your words to warrant a book. I frankly spent a good part of my driving hours mulling over some of the points that you quoted/raised. And quite frankly, I cannot see too far into the spiritual landscape to comment myself, rather, seek clarification.
Now, about the SadGuru/God, I am fine. About payback also, I am okay. It's all resound; the pendulum has to swing both ways.
About the graduation as well, I am okay. Once we come full circle, we come to realize (rather experience) that Everybody is I. To a beginner of Zen, a mountain is a mountain, to a student, it is no longer a mountain, to a master of Zen, it again becomes a mountain.
About the distinction between spiritual graduation and this self-gratification we call graduation within the organization, I am not fine. And I will get to it in a minute. BTW, I really hope I am not bothering you too much with all these ramblings. It is really enriching me, and hopefully others who read it.
For love to function, all men need to be born-again men. A real man is one of character. And character is courage. The first step, and the most vital any spiritual aspirant should take is for him to look at himself at his spiritual mirror. If he will not, he can walk as much the path as he can, but he will never move an inch. Our mirror will tell us what we are, and what we are not. It will also tell us to be honest. With others as well.
Once this happens, we will stop preaching without practicing. This is a fundamental issue I have with all office-bearers who wax eloquent in words and wane in action. And especially, when they talk about loving all and serving all.
Coming back to our points (and your out-of-this-world comments on perfection), how do I accept imperfection in Swami's work? Especially from people with distinguished legacies. More fundamentally, how can I see perfection in imperfect acts for the admittedly perfect cause?
Your statements on the types of perfection are nothing short of brilliant.Quote: In a state of ignorance, imperfection is natural and perfection is an effort. In a state of wisdom or enlightenment, imperfection is an effort; perfection is a compulsion and is unavoidable! Unquote. Your ideas summarize truth brilliantly. But my question warrants a different kind of answer.
How can I aspire for perfection in people's acts? Rather, how can I drive into people that we should be aiming for perfection, when the responses are a few breaths short of turbulent? In fact, in ends up being a vicious cycle of reaction upon reaction, and I end up becoming equal party to this iniquity.
And why is that some people get the message so early in life? I got the message late, therefore, I was hoping that others would have the intelligence to learn from my experience with indolence. But few have figured it out. Yet another classic 80/20 situation.
Although I am fundamentally responsible for everything around my sphere of existence, how can I accept imperfection of others' actions to attain perfection in my feeling? I guess this was the question I was trying to phrase all along.
I hope to receive further gems from your end. If I were you, I would actually go ahead and organize study circles for everyone's benefit. It would be unfair, and actually unjust to not share the knowledge of your experience.
Finally, about foot-soldiers, why do you feel we should aspire to be someone more when we are asked to not be anything more, and if we realize that such ambitions are symptomatic of spiritual immaturity? This is my perspective, would love to see yours.
Q How can I aspire for perfection in people's acts?
ReplyDeleteA If I want my 9 year child (let us say it is a she) to Brush her teeth, I tell her once-Brush your Teeth no more. [My words are powerless even to a child what to speak of the world]. Therefore, I hold her by her hands, take her to the wash, tell her a story, put a brush in her mouth and dance along with her and the brush. I intend doing this until she is embarrassed of the fact that she needs her father to help her do a simple chore
It has been many years since I have been doing this and I will continue doing this for an unforseeable future! I am having Shraddha and saburi- that one day she will obey my command to brush her teeth.
I cannot advise you how to drive into people that we should be aiming for perfection until many births after I learn how to have a little child follow my simple instruction to brush her teeth
Hope you get the point!!
What you ARE speaks so loudly that I can hardly hear what you speak about youself"
[Ralph Waldo Emerson]
"Being a role model is the best service you can do for others" [Swamy]
[Remember this was printed in all the paper bags given along with Prasad at the Centre]
Dont aim for perfection in others. Just yours is enough. I guarantee Brother Praveen's perfection will be more contagious than the rumors that spread on Swine flu!!
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteI see your point, though I don't comprehend it. First, there seems to be an oversimplification here.
My secretary (let's assume it's a she,- I too assume so - thankfully, she doesn't know I blog!) does some of my correspondence. I am by dreaded habit particular about the most minute details,- God is verily in the details. So, I am careful about the margins, and spacing, and font size and font style, et al.
Yet, I end up correcting just about every letter that comes my way. I also produce some of my letters to explain that these are how letters should be drafted. Stopping short of calling her darling, I have tried every trick in the book to explain how our correspondence becomes our first impression to our clients and vendors.
Now, if I were to go by your point, I would wait for another ten years, lose ten customers and downsize before she gets the point. That is criminal.
How would you fit in this scenario to your example? This is interesting conversation, by the way!
Praveen Sir
ReplyDeleteTop Secret Tip for Hiring. Always hire a person who, some day in the future, has the talent to be your boss and who you will feel happy working under.
You can choose a secretary but you cannot choose a daughter. If the Secretary is has the right attitude, is willing to learn and has the basic skills to be groomed then it is worthwhile investing the time and effort to let her learn and rise the rope. And you should have ensured this in the interview. If she does not match this criteria and you have no choice but to make her your secretary then you have to make do with her deficiencies.
Making imperfect perfect requires patience. But with love and faith you may see a miracle happen any moment!!