There is a time and place to say things especially the truth. If the time and/or the place is not ripe, Silence is the most appropriate statement to make!
Bhagavad Gita 17:15- anudvega-karam vakyam satyam priya-hitam ca yat svadhyayabhyasanam caiva van-mayam tapa ucyate "Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others"
“Saying what you feel’ if it hurts or agitates the others, no matter how truthful the saying, is “himsa”
Further Swamy Says "Even if you cannot oblige, you can at least speak obligingly. This means that you have to cleanse your speech of cynicism and satire and be ever sincere and sweet. You may differ from co-workers on methods and programmes, but this should not leave a scar on your heart or their heart...”
“Both unpleasant truth and pleasant untruth have to be avoided.”
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SABN Sir,
I see your well-reasoned points, and I know for sure that they are sincere. If I can have some more of your input to our discussion, and Swami presents the right course of action through them, you can be sure that there will be no further public statements in my private site! I guess the Socratic method suits best, as the many more years that you have will present richer experience, and thereby, wiser thoughts.
Bhagavad Gita 17:15- anudvega-karam vakyam satyam priya-hitam ca yat svadhyayabhyasanam caiva van-mayam tapa ucyate "Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others"
Now, Krishna talks of austerity by using 'truth' as the first adjective, not 'pleasing' not, 'not agitating'. What if the truth were not pleasant? And what if the silence continued to the extent that pleasantness of speech became an acceptable, and probably necessary substitute for truthfulness of speech? Secondly, in such a circumstance, is it more beneficial to let untruth flourish without hindrance (to the extent that a spiritual monument becomes a platform for spiritual performance rather than spiritual penance), at the expense of words which are disruptive, no doubt, but probatory for good reason?
“Saying what you feel’ if it hurts or agitates the others, no matter how truthful the saying, is “himsa”
What about saying what you don’t feel as it will please and ingratiate others, no matter how untruthful the saying. Which is the greater evil here, the himsa of the truthful word, or the ahimsa of the sweet lie,- if at all the latter is ahimsa?
Further Swamy Says "Even if you cannot oblige, you can at least speak obligingly. This means that you have to cleanse your speech of cynicism and satire and be ever sincere and sweet. You may differ from co-workers on methods and programmes, but this should not leave a scar on your heart or their heart...”Kerala is a Communist state, and for obvious reasons, the states with one of the most outstanding records for un-industrialization in India. One entrepreneur from Kerala settled in Singapore (or somewhere else I don’t really recollect where) and engaged in the shipping business decided to order two vessels from Cochin Shipyard, whilst Korean shipbuilders offered slightly higher prices, but with accurate deliveries. But this guy was patriotic and tried to engage even the lower-level workforce from Cochin Shipyard so that they too would realize the importance of playing to international rules (for their own benefit). He was very sweet and cordial, and to the cut the story short, he learned a very expensive lesson. This happened around four years back.
Another story, and this is based on personal experience. We have factory-people who come from many different states of South and North India. Now, I always have problems with people of two specific states. I can be sweet and cordial and keep getting a hit to our productivity, and consequently, to the entire company, or I can let go of a few rotten apples to save the rest of them. What I have done in the past is the practical thing from my perspective, not the benevolent thing, but the practical thing.
I will totally obey what the Avatar says on leaving hearts unscarred, but let me also ask this question: When the Avatar asks us to be sincere and sweet, and when the entire focus is on sweetness at the expense of sincerity, what do you think Swami might find more wrong - poison parading as perfume, or the pungent fumes of truth?
Among the very few that I can personally look up to, and currently engaged in some form of official capacity, KN (famous for, among others, ‘we cannot plan for everything, but we can pray for everything’, ‘we should not only serve Swami, but also serve as Swami’) stands out for being genuinely sincere, and incredibly sweet at the same time. But then, how many KNs do we have? So, when the difficult gel of sincerity and sweetness has to be professed, where do you think it should start? I know what you will say (it should start with myself!), but when we have a world full of yes-men, shouldn’t someone say no so that people know there is some kind of divergence of opinion and thought? Hasn’t humanity progressed because a few people at all levels questioned the status quo, whether it be of the geocentric universe, or that of life after death? In my own company, some of the most powerful people are those who will actually question me or counter my point of view. If I am a lawyer, will I make impolite admissions to defend my client, or offer silence to allow his defeat?
“Both unpleasant truth and pleasant untruth have to be avoided.”
Many years back, while in Boeing, I was forwarded a document on a software application named CATIA that was supposed to improve productivity, but did very well to affect the opposite. But after having spent half a billion dollars on the application, decision makers demonstrated perfect non-rational escalation of commitment by pumping more money for this project, in effect, to repaint a house standing on shallow foundation. But a few people felt this was wrong, and just about no one complained. People feared one or more of the following: losing their positions, going out of favour, or appearing to be plain stupid. What do we do under such circumstances? Remaining a mute spectator while claiming to be a foot-soldier of Krishna’s army is, in my opinion, the equivalent of retiring to the forest promptly after securing a PhD in social welfare. Furthermore, in a spiritual setting, do you think that communism of thought and pretense of vision, added to selfishness of interest, should be silently reviewed from the sidelines, or commented upon? Which is the greater evil?
If you still believe that the path of silence is the preferred choice, I will seriously go for it. The thing about Swami is that He gives us mixed signals with one clear message. I guess He wants us to use our viveka. This is where the satsang of the wise will help, and that is why I will agree with your experience.
Dear Praveen Sir
ReplyDeleteGenerally, how others speak to us conditions our feelings, speech and actions. However perfection in speech can be achieved if we achieve inner prefection in our feelings. I will address your questions later but please read the article below
(again the author is irrelevant for our discussion)
Quote
The desire for perfection is very normal, because perfection is normal. Perfection is not extraordinary, it is ordinary. And we all have it, actually.
Three levels of perfection can be achieved: perfection in action; perfection in expression, or words; and perfection in feeling. Some are very good in action, they do perfect action. But they don't necessarily feel their words are perfect, or their feelings are perfect. Some have wonderful feelings, very good feeling inside, but their actions are not so perfect. Some speak very nicely, their speech is perfect, but their actions are not.
It is imperfection that brings irritation in us. When we hear somebody saying something that they shouldn't say, that is not perfect, that is not right, then we get agitated. Now what has happened? We find fault in their speech but in reality it is our mind that has became imperfect that has become faulty!
Someone may feel wonderful inside--they feel clear, easy--but they may speak something out of habit. They don't mean what they say, they don't feel what they say. Many times mother tells the kids, "You get lost!" And she doesn't mean that, she doesn't feel that. But she says it--speech is not perfect, but the heart is perfect, the feelings are perfect.
Someone's heart may be perfect, speech may be perfect, but their action is a little slow. They are slow in acting. We can find this in tropical countries. In all the tropical countries they feel their heart is so good, very open, they talk very nicely, they'll say yes, yes, they'll say they'll do it, but when it comes to action, it is so slow. They never do what they say. It's all over the world; all the tropical places are like that. But somewhere else, in more cold countries, they do perfectly, everything they do is fine. But the moment they open their mouth, we have to plug our ears. There is perfection in action, but the words are so harsh.
Every time we expect some perfection in others' speech or feelings or in action, we should see that we don't lose that balance or perfection of our inner feelings, our mind. If they say something, it doesn't matter. Let go
Let us see them beyond their words. We should ideally never mind any words from anybody.
If only we could do that we have won the world. If we go beyond the words we have gone beyond this world also! And that is perfection in inner silence, inner peace, inner feeling. This inner perfection has no choice but to manifest itself outside in speech and in action!
Unquote
Dear Praveen Sir
ReplyDeleteContinuing further, In our dealings with human beings on a spiritual basis, one should always deal with the assumption that others have perfect feelings and intentions despite their speech and action. The moment we assume, in matters of spirituality, that other's feelings and intentions are flawed or faulty, we have completely lost the plot! Our Spiritual progress comes to a fullstop and absolute standstill!
When dealing with the people especially in the material/commerical world, our assumption should generally be the opposite. If I have to say lend credit to someone, I cannot bother too much for the borrowers feelings or intentions! All borrowers generally have very good intentions. But my judgement, decision and action should be based on what can be inferred from borrowers speech and action and not on their feelings and intentions which can, most often, neither be quantified nor substantiated with evidence.
Unfortunately, the real world cannot be segmented this easily and the dilemma is exacerbated when people in the corporate and commercial world should perfect feelings and intentions by being humane, compassionate, understanding and even forgiving whilst those in spiritual organisatin show no remorse and act ruthlessly. We have to use our "viveka" and "buddhi" and again it is skill and an art to be learnt only with experience.
That people in the spiritual organisations demonstrate inhuman feelings and intentions is only a reflection of our times and our karma. We have to cross this with patience and Faith in the Lord
We will go through your questions in the next comments
Answer to Questions
ReplyDeleteQ1 Now, Krishna talks of austerity by using 'truth' as the first adjective, not 'pleasing' not, 'not agitating'. What if the truth were not pleasant
A1 Yes Truth precedes pleasantness. Yet the application of this principle is contextual.
One should avoid unpleasant truth in these situations
a) When we deal with one who has a very low self esteem for they will not take any criticism espcially the truth lightly
b) When we deal with One who has no sense of belongingness for you for they will always doubt your intentions and assume imperfections in your feelings for them.
There is a correlation between sense of belongingness and humiliation. Only those who do not belong to us can humiliate us with the truth! Conversely, we will be always thanked for sharing an unpleasant truth by those who consider us as belonging to them! A convener once said-I can never be humiliated by our "Uncle"- I consider him my father-He belongs to me!
Yet I am not sure there are many amongst who share the same sense of belongingness with the subject mentioned!
c)When we need to motivate others.
If we have ever seen saints- they will always say yes even when there is only a 1% percent chance of success in an event or an activity.
Once I asked a saint whether I will pass the exam I was taking when I was woefully ill prepared for an exam and the exam was 15 days away. He said "..do not worry , you will pass". I gave the exam and failed miserably.
But imagine what would have happened if he had not said this unpleasant truth- very likely that I would have put in any effort- It was fait accompli in any case! The power of a positive word is more than a negative one nay even the truth!
Q2 And what if the silence continued to the extent that pleasantness of speech became an acceptable, and probably necessary substitute for truthfulness of speech?
ReplyDeleteAnswer 2 Silence is never an appropriate reaction where there is adharma. Mata Amritanandamayi, or Amma / Ammachi, has said: "Watching an unrighteous act that you know is against dharma, while keeping your mouth shut, is the greatest form of unrighteousness. That is the conduct of a coward, not a person of courage."
However any statement that you make must be in private- one to one with the perpetrator of adharma- in a respectful, sincere, sweet and pleasant manner.
Q3 Secondly, in such a circumstance, is it more beneficial to let untruth flourish without hindrance (to the extent that a spiritual monument becomes a platform for spiritual performance rather than spiritual penance), at the expense of words which are disruptive, no doubt, but probatory for good reason?
A3. Untruth should not flourish but again it depends on how you put the truth accross. 90% of the people are bothered more by how you say or communicate than what you communicate.
"Give a Man Orders- He will do a good job. Request a man with love, respect and freedom- It becomes a personal mission of excellence!"
"So that ...a spiritual monument becomes a platform for spiritual performance rather than spiritual penance"
Our organisation at least locally is not monument. Far too many people are taking it far too seriously. Further Praveen, we should have a very big mind. What if people get more songs to sing (or some no songs), what if some people sit in the front rows(or some do not get to sit at all!), what if some do prime time seva and some do not do any seva at all- Big deal it makes no difference to the end result
Just observe the tamasha- do not judge
The objective of Swamy’s organization is - to enable us to end our mind. So long as there is mind, there is duality and the reality of one consciousness pervading the entire universe is not cognized.
The mind’s existence is predicated upon the process of judgment. So long as we keep judging events and people as right and wrong, we are keeping the mind in business. Swamy wants us to observe not judge- i.e to be “conscious” of and not “mind” other’s business!
Essentially observance or seeing or the witnessing is the true nature of consciousness.
Judgement- right and wrong, big and small, good and bad , past and future is the inherent nature of the mind.
So this Divine leela of Maya is the wonderful vacillation between the world of consciousness and the world of the mind. The world of consciousness is the world of gold where as the world of the mind is the world of bangles and necklaces, bracelets and amulets….. …
Swamy says that “His Organization and its people are there for you, “You” are not there for His Organisation and its people”. So our primary concern should be our spiritual growth and evolution. The Organisation and its people should therefore not be our highest priority!
There is no need to fret and fume over what is no more than small incidents of unimportant consequence
When you see hypocricy, selfishness or injustice- we have to tell ourselves- Neti Neti Not this, Not this... When selfless Divine love and sweet and sincere acts are performed, we should use that as our benchmark and uplift ourselves that that standard of performance and action. Beyond this the the organisation and its people has no value and utility!
Q4 What about saying what you don’t feel as it will please and ingratiate others, no matter how untruthful the saying.
ReplyDeleteQ5 Which is the greater evil here, the himsa of the truthful word, or the ahimsa of the sweet lie,- if at all the latter is ahimsa?
A4.One should not say what one does not feel as right. Sychophancy in general is a sweet lie. Silence is a better option here.
If you look at most of the people in our fraternity at the top they are proud and vainglorious. What is pride-? Pride is craving for honour, respect and appreciation from others as the source of happiness. Pride makes us slave to our talent, power, position and possessions, which bring that honor to us. If you look at our specimens -Pride makes them perpetually insecure and worried whether others are honoring them and whether the prerequisites- power position etc are safely in their control or not! Attend a Bhajan session and you will see eyes searching for respect and recognition of their presence. This gives rise to a culture of sychophancy and sweet lies
You know in the olden days Seva Volunteers were asked to perform Seva even without looking at the eyes of the Seva beneficiaries. No meeting of the eyes, no searching for acquaintances. One look at the eyes of the beneficiary and Seva was deemed to be unselfless-that was the standard laid out then!
A5. Between Himsa of a Truthful word and Ahimsa of a Sweet Lie- I will always choose the latter but as I said before application of this or any principle is contextual
"The Song you sang was not good"- Say this to a new singer-chances are he/she will not mind. Say this to a 30+yr old veterans in our fratenity-chances are...hmm you can guess the consequences
When someone dies and you have to pass on the bad news to his/her family- the choice should always be the former- the himsa of the pleasant truth!
Saints tell us whenever you meet the family of someone who has bereaved it is not improper to give an assurance "Dont worry the bereaved will give you enough strength to overcome this.." Even though this may not be true- this is the best statement (pleasant untruth) apparently one can and should make under the circumstances!
Swamy's Help Ever- Hurt Never principle" has by and large literral application. One should never hurt anybody under any circumstances- this is the overriding principle
How does one apply correctly in real world- This is a skill and an art and we are born here to perfect this.
Q6 Korean Shipbuilder story
ReplyDeleteQ7 Firing Rotten Apples in a team
Being Sweet does not mean not doing the right thing. Not scarring the heart does not mean not firing employees. Every decision must have reasonable and adequate basis. For every action, however, there is a time, place and manner to execute. It should be done in a respectful and dignified manner.
Q8 When the Avatar asks us to be sincere and sweet, and when the entire focus is on sweetness at the expense of sincerity...
Fake it till you make it is what people tell you about a "smile". A smile even if it is not sincere is worth it.
Swamy's says- "NO, I cant help you" should never be said even if that is the absolute truth. We should put it in a sweet fashion even if it is not 100% sincere. "I have other commitments-Let me see-what I can do for you-Let me try to speak to so and so etc
Q9 what do you think Swami might find more wrong - poison parading as perfume, or the pungent fumes of truth
ReplyDeleteA9 Swamy will find both wrong. which one is More wrong is an irrelevant question for us unless we are only left with a choice of committing between one of the two acts and you know we are not . Do not worry about them (poison paraders) -Swamy will take care in time to come!
Q10 But then, how many KNs do we have?
A10 Not one I can think of!
Q10- So, when the difficult gel of sincerity and sweetness has to be professed, where do you think it should start
A10- Bang on target-It should start with you Praveen- the whole story is not about them- it is about you. Remember Karma back comes to you only in the shape of an event, person or an organisation (environment). You have chosen them (i.e us, the company of humble immortals) at the time of entering this planet as partners to teach you the lessons you missed out in your previous journey. Whether we practise any othe traits like sincerety or not, it does not matter-you have to practise the same. Likewise for Sweetness
Q11 but when we have a world full of yes-men, shouldn’t someone say no so that people know there is some kind of divergence of opinion and thought? Hasn’t humanity progressed because a few people at all levels questioned the status quo, whether it be of the geocentric universe, or that of life after death
A11. In our organisation being skeptical is viewed as being cynical-unfortunately. Still Praveen, you can be skeptical but be prepared to pay a price- this is how the organisation is- this is how its people are. It may seem difficult to digest and accept but this is reality.
You can only criticise someone who can tolerate criticism. If your criticism makes him commit suicide- why do you want to bear the burden of that unwanted karma? Keep quiet, do your work and Jai Sairam!
Q13 In my own company, some of the most powerful people are those who will actually question me or counter my point of view.
A13 Your company practises democracy where contrarian view and consensus can coexist. In our fraternity we follow Bushism- We have Sr Bush, Junior Bush, Baby Bush all with a single business principle and tagline-"Either you are with us or you are against us!"
I laughed as I wrote this- The terrorism of the pen (or should I say keypad) is more venomous than the rebuke of the tongue!!
Q14 But a few people felt this was wrong, and just about no one complained. People feared one or more of the following: losing their positions, going out of favour, or appearing to be plain stupid. What do we do under such circumstances?
ReplyDeleteCorporates are more inclined to accept democracy and dissent in goodtimes. They tend to become dictatorial in crises and recession. Good Organisations and Good bosses (far and few between) follow sound corporate values which allow for divergence in thought and opinions at all times. These managers also lay the ground rules of "agreeing to disagree" well in advance
One of my bosses told me- you challenge my decision- I will fire you. So what you do- depends on what is more important to you- selfrespect (challenge him) or ability to pay the bills(keep you job going- I choose the latter! In our own organisation- I choose the former and the rest is history!
Q15. Remaining a mute spectator while claiming to be a foot-soldier of Krishna’s army is, in my opinion, the equivalent of retiring to the forest promptly after securing a PhD in social welfare. Furthermore, in a spiritual setting, do you think that communism of thought and pretense of vision, added to selfishness of interest, should be silently reviewed from the sidelines, or commented upon? Which is the greater evil?
A15. Swamy has said- The SAI Movement is "Anasuya"- Anasuya means Devoid of fault finding eyes. If you are on the spiritual path- you need to have a very big mind and then ignore the failings and foibles of individuals. Look at the spirit and not the body. If are not devoid of the fault finding eyes you can find thousands of faults even in Krishna and then take him to court, if he were alive today, for polygamy (16017 wives), fractiscide, treachery and deception.
At the same time, if you notice anything wrong, anywhere in our organisation and people, do point out the same and give your opinion but do it politely, in private in a respectful and dignified manner. Also be prepared to accept the fact that after you have given your opinion, no one will pay any heed to them or act on it and may even take action agsinst you. You have done your job, the rest is their and your karma
When we criticise others in public, we are parading other's human foibles in public indirectly judging them and indicating that they do not meet our moral standard of feelings, speech and action. What are we doing is judging- the body - which is imperfect. The spirit, the atma inside in all of us is already perfect. This process of judgment of the body entraps us to the mayic world of the mind
You had grievances, you aired them, people read it. Now let us move on. Let us choose a right and ripe time and place to criticise in private, in a respectful dignified manner. But let us not playback the gramophone (the song is the same- singers are different) in our minds and in public again and again
Spiritiuality as per swamy is seeing good, hearing good and doing good as per Swamy. If we spend our energies noticing the faults of others- those attributes or gunas- gets transferred to us.
Let us instead notice and praise (even in public) the good in others- let us bring out the best from others. Let us do more Seva to ourselves (sadhana) , to our families, to our community and to the world. Let us end our mind
Jai Sairam
A Collection of Swamy's quotes
ReplyDelete"Whatever we see in others is only a reflection of our own self. If We accuse somebody as bad, it is just that our feeling towards the person is bad. Whatever impression we have about others is a reflection of our feeling towards them. Everthing is just a reflection, reaction and resound. Therefore, you shouyld not find fault with others. You do not have the right to find fault because your assessment of a person is limited to your experience with him. Ther are so many aspects of the personaility of those personality you do not know!"
" Selflessness is God. The self which is selfless is God. To feel 'mine' and 'thine' is ego. Ego is harmful. No two good people can work together for a common cause because of their egos. It is precisely to kill the ego that two souls are brought together. They can learn to adjust to one another and forget their ego"
"Speech is a tool that you can use in order to give vent to your thoughts, your thoughts, your feelings, your desires, your prayers, your joys and sorrows. If you are angry, you use it to speak out ahrsh words very loundly. If you are pleased you use it to speak soft words, in low pleasant voice. I want you to use your talents, your tongue only for your good and the good of others..."
"The proper study of mankind is man!"
Although I do not disagree with SABN's comments, these are in my opinion Gandhian comments, no longer relevant today and there is more than merit in Praveen's arguments.
ReplyDeleteIn the garb of a spiritual organisation and the guise of doing seva, conveners are terrorising active workers mentally and emotionally to pursue selfish personal agendas which smacks of hypocricy and arrogance. Most workers and devotees are not naive to brush aside this "tamasha" as SABN put it but do not want to rock their own boat or the boat of the organisation just to preserve overall peace and amity. Besides, they do not want to become a nobody which is what ostracisation and isolation brings once they rock the boat. And then most of them do not have the guts to speak their mind out, like Praveen does, even though they have tons of qualms buried deep within their scarred hearts
The arrogance and hypocricy of our conveners needs to be crushed. What is damning to know is that they treat devotees very nicely when they are devotees but once they become an active worker (and become pretty good at it), they treat them like dirt without any respect and decorum that is deserved by a human being.
This is really strange and a wonder. Although being a active worker is a necessary bridge that leads one to being a convener, like all stepping stones they are needed until they no longer are. But what good does it do to invalidate and ridicule that stepping stone just because they, the conveners, are no longer there?
If they, the conveners, like where they are now, why do they not simply recognize that the stepping stone, that "bridge" was necessary to get them to where they are now. In this recognition, there is a feeling of gratitude and a sense of respect towards others who are walking the path that they, too, had once walked.
It seems like, for some reason, there is a tendency to burn our bridges in our organisation, as if it is “bad” to be at a lower level, as if we have to totally obliterate where we once were to fully embrace where we are now. This manifests itself in the form of arrogance. “Why can’t you see what I see? You idiot, you don’t know what I know. I know better than you. You’re retarded. I am better than you. See I am near to Swamy- See I am singing at Swamy's feet. I am having lunch and meetings with this office bearer of the organisation. You do not have Swamy’s grace as much as I do” And then there is this unending jostling and elbowing to go to the front rows to be near to Swamy as if liberation is a function of physical proximity to Swamy either in Kulwant hall or mandir.
We are not in a spiritual organisation. We are witnessing a spiritual sitcom- a soap opera with all the masala of vengenance and spite, vindictiveness and revenge. This is not the place where the lessons of love, of sacrifice, of selfessness are to be learnt. This is the place where "rajneethi" is screened live day and day out and the only thing that active workers will inevitably become good at.
I support Praveen's method - We should play ball with the conveners. Non violence does not mean taking all this lying hands down. We should show that an we are not weak and timid and we should stand up against exploitation. When Hitler like conveners with geniocidical agendas are armed with Spiritual Kalashnikovs, Bazookas and Ak-47's of Swamy's quotes without practising an iota of the same themselves, the Gandhiist non violence method of SABN is not going to help defend one against mistreatment, injustice and arrogant exploitation. An eye of an eye will keep at least one of your eye safe as otherwise you may end up without one!
Mr Anonymous Sairam- You that are entitled to your views just as much as I am entitled to mine. You have labeled my opinion as Gandhian thoughts but many of my statements are from Swamy’s quotes- Never mind
ReplyDeleteAs a response, I want to begin with the clarification that Just because someone is a convener or office bearer at local or regional level or merely a SAI Devotee does not mean he/she is spiritually evolved. Just because someone is granted an interview with Swamy does not mean he or she is higher than us at a spiritual level or that they have done yeoman service to the organization or mankind and /or that you or we have not done enough. That position may be most suitable path for that individual to complete and learn the lessons of this life. Same is the case with interviews. Do not think that all persons who has had an interview with Swamy are deserving souls spiritually or that will act after the interview exceptionally well and in a very responsible fashion. Criminals have got interviews- Probably Swamy in his inimitable act of compassion, love and grace has offered a few words of courage and solace during those interviews that has helped those criminals to weather the storm of the experience of fruits of their criminal actions bravely!
It is indeed surprising that quite often for many SAI devotees the real learning in the SAI fold happens when he/she is stripped of that position of an office bearer. Have you not heard of "Chat"erjee, "Banner"jee, "Mukh"erjee Sai cycle? It is the case and experience of a typical new enthusiatic Sai devotee. That devotee enters the Sai Organisation with a lot of energy, go getting attitude, ideas and fancy speeches- He is a "Chat"erjee. Looking at his speech and action for a few months- he is given a position of an office bearer- He becomes a "Banner" jee. After a few months or years of work he is dropped from his position like a cold potato- some minor incidents and ego clashes usually result in such mishaps! Heavens fall down on his/her spiritual mind- when he realises the illusory nature of the power and pelf pastimes of his office bearer days- he gets mukhti- he becomes a "Mukh"erjee - This is when he/she really starts doing real "seva" to the mankind. The real purport of associating with Sai dawns on him/her and then the real spiritual progression happens. One need not go beyond your’s truly to vouch for the authenticity of this experience. Yet I am not advocating that one level- ex office bearer or office bearer is higher than the other!
Where any person is now- a devotee, an active worker or a convener is perhaps exactly where they need to be. Perhaps it’s precisely where their soul chose to be even before they were born, and who knows what positive benefits them being where they are will have on others. Who knows what incredible benefits will ripple through the rest of the organization or even the universe simply because another was willing to “be at a lower level” on the physical plane?
In our organization, there is a cult like behavior where a few privileges (such as singing a few songs, dining with conveners, vip seating at Bhajans, sports day etc) enjoyed by a handful of conveners or active workers are seen as a reflection of special “higher” status which ipso facto deems others at a spiritually lower level. The reality is hardly so divisive and in the eyes of Swamy, no one is higher or lower; all are equals irrespective of the physical proximity one may enjoy with him!
ReplyDeleteWhen we drop the notion that one level is better than another, and we should really drop this ‘organization brainwashed notion of being underdogs or privileged’, there’s an openness that’s created that allows other to be wherever they are, no matter if we see them as incredibly wise or utterly deluded. There’s a sense of peace in this. There’s a sense of, “ahh, I can stop going to war with others. I CAN QUIT ARGUING AND RESISTING WITH REALITY. Things really are okay the way they are, even if they don’t look okay.”
Arguing and resistance with reality is the key. EGO is nothing but arguing and resisting the reality
Resisting someone’s action is anger, accepting it is tolerance.
Resistance of someone who does not deserve achievement or success is jealousy, Acceptance is Inspiration
Resisting someone who has hurt us is hatred, acceptance is forgiveness
Resisting the uncertainity of our actions is fear, acceptance is an adventure
So the way our conveners or active workers are - that is not the problem, resistance to that reality is the problem. Resistance brings about the sixfold negative emotions of anger, hatred, jealousy etc Acceptance of them as they are brings about positive emotions.
If the ego could be defined as “resistance to reality,” this pulls out one of its supporting legs and helps us release yet another trigger that sparks us into conflict and division with these people who practice selfishness, hypocrisy and arrogance.
ReplyDeleteInstead of moving from lower to higher as if we’re moving from better to worse, it becomes simply the understanding that at different levels, we learn different lessons, we have different experiences, we come to clarity on different aspects of the whole, and we become aware of yet another facet of All That Is.
Without the division of right and wrong, good and bad, better or worse, and should’s and shouldn’ts, there’s just different games for people to play, different expressions for consciousness to take form as. There’s just the Divine experiencing itself from every perspective possible.
Without any part of All That Is, All That Is would not be ALL That Is.
And so Mr Anonymous, this part of our journey is about ending the inner war, about stopping the tendency of the right hand slapping the left, of the mouth biting the nose, teeth biting the tongue as if there is benefit in someone beating himself or herself up.
As we let go of the need to give our love and approval only to those we deem acceptable, we let go of even more conditions upon our Love and allow Divine Love to flow that much more.
No battle. No struggle. No judgment. No looking down upon. No patronizing. No condemnation. Just Acceptance. Peace. Love.
Is acceptance is not one of the things people crave most? Just to be accepted for who they are without having to put on some false mask of being someone else (such as being spiritually elevated …etc) in the hope that they will then be accepted? Don’t we all want to just be loved for who we really are? Doesn’t’ God love us for who we are no matter how bad we are?
Let’s create that space. Let’s open up and love people for who they are, love ourselves for who we are, not because of something.. not because we are convenors with special privileges ..not because we are underdogs with a nobody status ….not because of something that we have done to deserve this love, not because we have done nothing of use and value to anyone in this world let alone to Swamy …..but simply because we are who we are. When we love ourselves for who we really are, we can allow others to be loved for who they are, however they are.
Let us tap into that ocean of Love that is Swamy and pour it all on all our SAI Brothers and sisters-no matter how they are- that Love that is freely given, that Love that is always available, that Love that is eternally present.
Our Organisation is a reflection of the external world.
ReplyDeleteThe external world has individuals who are involved in politicking, gimmickry of achievement, vested interests, competetion, meglomania, individuals who are machiavellic, ambitious (in a negative way), power hungry, fame hungry, narcissistic, lacking empathy, self-centered, selfish, vain, lacking compassion, incapable of loving, incapable of feeling, incapable of establishing deep bonds with anyone, distorted sense of grandiosity of themselves, revengeful, abusive, manipulative, liar, sinister, stressed, explosive, deceitful, hypocritical etc.
Depending on our own nature (because that decides the smoke screen or the filter we use to view the organisation) we can observe one or many traits in our own organisation and its conveners, workers and devotees
We have three choices-
a) Expect Sai devotees, active workers and conveners to be perfect or close to be perfect and not have any of these traits above AND THEN be utterly disappointed or dejected. Consequence-we behave the way we normally behave in the external world i.e be revengeful, vindictive, become selfish, hypocrite and arrogant etc
OR
b) Accept that Sai devotees, active workers and conveners will have many or all of the negative traits above and use the organisation and its people as a forum and a spiritual ground to develop divine traits like humility, tolerance, forbearance, forgiveness, compassion, love and divine love
OR
c) leave the organisation. [Swamy says one should never leave the organisation under any circumstances. Further no one can leave the organisation unless He wills!]
Mr Anonymous, your choice can be one of a) or b) or c) above. A wise man will choose b)
But in reality it is not you who is making the choice- It is He SWAMY who does it. People , Events and circumstances are only HIS instruments!
Sai Ram Praveen, Could you please let me know from where you got the following quote, i.e in which discourse has Swami said this?. It would be very useful for us. Thanks
DeleteComing back to Praveen Sirs main subject on "Saying what you feel" here is an excellent article - Again author irrelevant
ReplyDeleteQUOTE
"Let me be very frank with you..."
"I am a very frank person. Whatever I want to say to people, I tell them on their face..."
"Somehow people do not like me because they cannot accept my frankness.."
The above are some lines on cummincation, we hear everyday. The irony is none of these frank people can accept frankness of others when it is directed at them. When they are being frank- they are being "straightforward" and "candid", when it is from others they brand it as arrogance and indifference!
Even plain facts, when expressed frankly are difficult to accept. How then can others tolerate our frankness when, more often than not, is just our opinion?
Contd
QUOTE
ReplyDeletecontd
Truly, Frankness in itself is never a problem. It
is the bluntness with which our frankness is conveyed that causes the problem. Human beings are fundamentally creatures of emotion not logic. Our frankness may have (a strong MAY HAVE) some logic in it, but the bluntness with which it is communicated emotionally ruffles other people. A wounded heart incapacitates the comprehending capabilities of the mind.
When stuck by an arrow, will anyone analyse the raw material with which the arrow is manufactured? When words hurt the tender heart of people they care too little for the meaning those words, even if they were said with all good intentions, were meant to convey!
It isn't just how you cook, how you serve the cooked food also makes a big difference.
COMMUNICATION ACHIEVES ITS OBJECTIVE ONLY WHEN ALL FOUR COMPONENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF
WHAT YOU SAY
HOW YOU SAY
WHEN YOU SAY
WHEN YOU STOP
Frankly speaking, good communication will serve a relationship, improper communication will sever a relationship!!
UNQUOTE
If resistance to reality is ego, I have the biggest ego! But I call it self respect, self esteem, self love but I am not like Gandhi who who will practise non violence to the world but commits violence on himself and his family!
ReplyDeleteSABN Sir, I do not know who you are but all what you are saying, and I am being both frank and BLUNT with you, is very good only in theory but not practice!
Help Ever Hurt Never
Help Ever Principle-People Help only conveners when they are conveners. When they are no longer conveners, the name of such individuals are consigned to eternity! You will be lucky if some one smiles at these individuals let alone say Sairam!
Hurt Never- The one thing our exalted conveners are good at is hurting people. What is noteworthy and creditable and incredible at the same time is the sophistication, the subtlety , the deftness, the suavity, the tact with which needle is injected in the banana skin and the fruit. If there is one thing done in a chic, modish way it is hurting Sai devotees - more so active workers
Seva is Selfless Voluntary Social Service
What happens in our organisation is Selfish Mandatory "show"cial service!
So SABN sir- your grand idea of acceptance of people the way they are resounds of Jesus- If somoene slaps your face, you are saying, "in the name of love and divine love", show your other face- so that people slap you endlessly whilst they will walk away with songs, mike, seats and VIP seats, photo opportunities, accolades and even symapthaies for having managed and worked with poor incorrigible active "chosen" workers like us! This is not my idea of Seva and not my idea of learning love
If praveen has the courage to pay our "immortals" (to quote your same words) in the same coin, why do you want stop. He may reduce the atyachaar that is happening in the organisation?
In the material world Mr Anonymous, Ego has value. You can keep it, nourish it and nurture it until your grave and it will pay your rich dividends! Ego seeks the Extraordinary- Being unique and being different-that us is what brings us name, fame, recognition, success, achievement etc. Being run of the mill is ordinary.
ReplyDeleteIn the spiritual path you are here to drop your ego- You are a nobody. That is why Swamy selected you in the first place to be in His fold. If ever you forget your "Nobody" status there are enough personalities in his organisation to remind you of the same!
In the spiritual path selfless work is the stepping stone to our goal. Any work done by us in a selfless way is "Swamy's" work. Everything else is the work of the Ego! Are we not self centered if not selfish in our lives?
Swamy says have Unity in Thought Word and Deed. Are we not hypocrites in many aspects of our lives?
Swamy says Help ever Hurt never and Speak Softly and Sweetly with one and all? Does not our words hurt others sometimes even beyond repair? Has nobody ever labelled us as arrogant?
Swamy Says- The Lord of the Universe has descended on this Planet to teach you simple yet profound principles to live your life by. I have been talking of these principles year after year, decade after decade but what is the use? Very few listen to me and I can hardly see any transformation in you
He tells sweetly and softly - we do not comply ; yet he has our welfare in His mind. He can never forsake us
How does he make us comply? By showing us acts of selfishness, hypocricy and arrogance by those who call us "Brothers" and "Sisters"! By getting us hurt by our dear and near ones , he gives us a wake up call. He does not do it in reality. Everthing is just a reflection, reaction and resound as Swamy says. Nature merely rearranges our own Karma to pay ourselves back through these individuals!
He then waits and observes us- Do we "Respond" to this situation or Do we "React" to these individuals?
Do we use this as an opportunity to introspect and cleanse our being of negativity to progress "ahead" in life or do we trade our innate goodness and godliness to get "even" with people?
Do we get ahead or Do we get even?
Look at the tragedy. It is also a wonder. More often than not, Instead of "Responding" by correcting ourselves we are "Reacting" by pointing out faults of others. One finger at the other but four pointing at ourselves!
Are we responsible?
Are we "able" to choose a "response" which is different from the stimulus instigated by forces outside of our control- the environment, its events and people!
When the Hour of Reckoning comes during our death- how do we want to account for our lives. "Oh Swamy - I am great. Thank you for making me great! I would have done great Seva, Sadhana and followed all your teachings but you know I got very busy. I got busy addressing and correcting the selfishness, hypocricy and arrogance of some devotees, active workers and conveners. It took me a lifetime correcting then yet surprising they did not change even by an inch. Please forgive me! Next time when you come as Prema Sai Baba and I come as myself-please give be a good organisation with good devotees, active workers and conveners and I will do a wonderful job...."
In the next life Mr Anonymous, chances are both Praveen and I will be writing a blog on you!
Contd
Mr SABN I know you have not finished. Please allow me to interject
ReplyDeleteI know you will say respond positively, tolerate them forgive them etc but my problem is I cannot tolerate and I cannot forgive people especially those who have hurt me in the organisation. I have been in other Sai Centres both in and out of India. There people are personification of love, sweetness and kindness. Why do we have have Adolf Hitlers in our joint?
When people are nice, kind and loving, we learn to be nice kind and loving, but when people are bossy, manipulative and sinister, we need to be saints to practise love in their midst!
We are here to learn unity in diversity? Why is there Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class in the Spiritual Path of our Organisation. Why do we have echelons with different privileges? My mind is tormented with resistance to this reality
We are digressing from the main topic
ReplyDeleteIf you cannot tolerate, Mr Anonymous, please do not tolerate. Think slowly. Think deeply. Is tolerance a choice?
With time, tolerance to an act or an event or a person becomes an inevitable reality!
Better than tolerance is kshama (english word is between forbearance and forgiveness) and better than kshama is compassion or "hrudaya"
When we tolerate pain given by someone else, the tendency is that the pent up emotions will accumalate and will give vent sometime in the future- erupting like a dormant volcano. So tolerance is an inferior virtue but is a stepping stone to kshama
When we practise kshama, there is an inherent assumption that someone had the intention and feeling to harm us! We need not practise kshama if anyone has hurt us without the intention of hurting us. Please refer my comments above- we have to always assume in spirituality there is no imperfect intention and feelings on the part of those who deal with us or those who hurt us.
We we practise compassion we are assuming that others are ignorant. In reality those who hurt have hurt you MR Anonymous are ignorant
A child kicks the womb of the mother during pregnancy and the mother gets hurt. Should she tolerate, practise kshama or be compassionate to the child. The child is ignorant of the pain it causes the mother. A mother is compassionate. In reality this is the best pain of joy the mother may experience in her pregnancy!
The different classes that exist in our organisation is due to ignorance of the leaders of the organisation and one should have compassion on them. It is unfortunate that they want to create a culture where some are more equal than the others.
We are in a spiritual organisation to do seva. We do seva so that we lose our "wave" identity and assume the identity of the "ocean". Unfortunately and ironically many of us want to use a seva organisation as a platform to assume an identity of a bigger, larger and gianter wave- What can one do? It is their ego, their ignorance and again one can only have compassion on them.
The elephant goes to pond to get rid of the mud but if after a bath in the pond it throws mud on itself-what can one do? What is happening is We do Seva to lose our identity and then when we return from seva we sit in different "classes of rows" to get back the identity that we are are trying to lose in the first place! What can we do except feel compassion towards the ignorance of those of our brothers and sisters?
Swamy says in case of differences with co-workers all are requested to maintain unity in the Sai organisation by practising "compassion".
If you look at our organisation Unity is missing because compassion- hrudaya is missing from those who hurt others and those who are hurt by others!
The Best Medicine for Depression is having an Ego.
ReplyDeleteThe Best Medicine for having an Ego is performing Seva
The Best Seva that can be done is to be a role model and example to others
The Best Way to be a role model is to remove the fault in one's own self instead of finding fault in others!
The next morning he was back there. He threw himself at Buddha’s feet. Buddha asked him again, “What next? This, too, is a way of saying something that cannot be said in language. When you come and touch my feet, you are saying something that cannot be said ordinarily, for which all words are a little narrow; it cannot be contained in them.” Buddha said, “Look, Ananda, this man is again here, he is saying something. This man is a man of deep emotions.”
ReplyDeleteThe man looked at Buddha and said, “Forgive me for what I did yesterday.”
Buddha said, “Forgive? But I am not the same man to whom you did it. The Ganges goes on flowing, it is never the same Ganges again. Every man is a river. The man you spit upon is no longer here. I look just like him, but I am not the same, much has happened in these twenty-four hours! The river has flowed so much. So I cannot forgive you because I have no grudge against you.”
“And you also are new. I can see you are not the same man who came yesterday because that man was angry and he spit, whereas you are bowing at my feet, touching my feet. How can you be the same man? You are not the same man, so let us forget about it. Those two people, the man who spit and the man on whom he spit, both are no more. Come closer. Let us talk of something else.”
Buddha was sitting under a tree talking to his disciples when a man came and spit on his face. He wiped it off, and he asked the man, “What next? What do you want to say next?” The man was a little puzzled because he himself never expected that when you spit on somebody’s face, he will ask, “What next?” He had no such experience in his past. He had insulted people and they had become angry and they had reacted. Or if they were cowards and weaklings, they had smiled, trying to bribe the man. But Buddha was like neither, he was not angry nor in any way offended, nor in any way cowardly. But just matter-of-factly he said, “What next?” There was no reaction on his part.
ReplyDeleteBuddha’s disciples became angry, they reacted. His closest disciple, Ananda, said, “This is too much, and we cannot tolerate it. He has to be punished for it. Otherwise everybody will start doing things like this.”
Buddha said, “You keep silent. He has not offended me, but you are offending me. He is new, a stranger. He must have heard from people something about me, that this man is an atheist, a dangerous man who is throwing people off their track, a revolutionary, a corrupter. And he may have formed some idea, a notion of me. He has not spit on me, he has spit on his notion. He has spit on his idea of me because he does not know me at all, so how can he spit on me?
“If you think on it deeply,” Buddha said, “he has spit on his own mind. I am not part of it, and I can see that this poor man must have something else to say because this is a way of saying something. Spitting is a way of saying something. There are moments when you feel that language is impotent: in deep love, in intense anger, in hate, in prayer. There are intense moments when language is impotent. Then you have to do something. When you are angry, intensely angry, you hit the person, you spit on him, you are saying something. I can understand him. He must have something more to say, that’s why I’m asking, “What next?”
ReplyDeleteThe man was even more puzzled! And Buddha said to his disciples, “I am more offended by you because you know me, and you have lived for years with me, and still you react.”
Puzzled, confused, the man returned home. He could not sleep the whole night. When you see a Buddha, it is difficult, impossible to sleep again the way you used to sleep before. Again and again he was haunted by the experience. He could not explain it to himself, what had happened. He was trembling all over and perspiring. He had never come across such a man; he shattered his whole mind and his whole pattern, his whole past.
The next morning he was back there. He threw himself at Buddha’s feet. Buddha asked him again, “What next? This, too, is a way of saying something that cannot be said in language. When you come and touch my feet, you are saying something that cannot be said ordinarily, for which all words are a little narrow; it cannot be contained in them.” Buddha said, “Look, Ananda, this man is again here, he is saying something. This man is a man of deep emotions.”
ReplyDeleteThe man looked at Buddha and said, “Forgive me for what I did yesterday.”
Buddha said, “Forgive? But I am not the same man to whom you did it. The Ganges goes on flowing, it is never the same Ganges again. Every man is a river. The man you spit upon is no longer here. I look just like him, but I am not the same, much has happened in these twenty-four hours! The river has flowed so much. So I cannot forgive you because I have no grudge against you.”
“And you also are new. I can see you are not the same man who came yesterday because that man was angry and he spit, whereas you are bowing at my feet, touching my feet. How can you be the same man? You are not the same man, so let us forget about it. Those two people, the man who spit and the man on whom he spit, both are no more. Come closer. Let us talk of something else.”
When we find fault with others,especially a Sai devotee, we are finding fault with notion we have of that Sai Devote and not that devotee him/herself and quite often the notion is incomplete! But we forget that that individual is special because he has been chosen by Swamy. Swamy has overlooked all their faults and has made them dear to him just as much as He has made us dear to Him overlooking our faults.
ReplyDeleteSwamy has therefore said-"You do not have the right to find fault because your assessment of a person is limited to your experience with him. Ther are so many aspects of the personaility of that individual you do not know!"
Thus if anyone in the Sai fold has called you Mr Anonymous Idiot or Retarded- it is just an imperfect and impotent expression of intense emotion through the medium of English language. He has critised a notion of yourself in his mind that existed at that time- He did not mean to criticise you in reality
Great Masters say that if we have strong emotions against anyone we should hold on to our horses for 72 hours- for in 72 hours all emotions in human dies away or gets significantly diluted. If you have to shout at anyone- shout after 72 hrs- chances are you will never shout!
Again one should feel compassion for that individual. For if he knew the 72 hour principle, he would not have said whatever he has said to you!
Forgiveness is the acknowledgement that we aren't the same people anymore, and that all that has gone before is swept away, much like the water in the river.
ReplyDeleteMany in the Sai fold have gone through shattering experiences much like this man has in the hands of Buddha and have turned over a new leaf.
Swamy's rationale for the same is "Life is full and overflowing with the new, but it is necessary to empty out the old to make room for the new to enter. The emptying out process can be very painful, for when you have been emptied of the old, you may experience that feeling of having nothing to hold on to and of being alone and bereft of everything. You may feel that life is completely dead and empty with no meaning to it, and you want to throw up your hands in despair. Realise that if you are going through such a time, it is this process of being emptied of the old so that you can be refilled with the new. Never give up hope, but hold on until you are completely empty and drained of everything. Then you can start again in newness of Spirit and in truth. You can become as a little child and enjoy to the full the wonderment of this new life as you gradually become infilled by it"
Response v/s Reaction
ReplyDeleteWhen we recovering from an illness, doctors say, "You are responding to the medicine". If the Health deteriorates, doctors say "The medicine is reacting on you"
Response is positive; reaction is negative
The wise never react to any situation in life but instead choose their response. The forces from outside should never instigate our behaviour. Our Behaviour should be born out of our internal values - the value we are all born with Sathya, Dharma, Prema, Shanti , Ahimsa- the values we have forgotten because of not using them- these values should decide our behaviour. No man or woman in this world should purchase and parade our inherent goodness and godliness.
How the World behaves is none of our business. How the Organisation is again none of our business. How its people are it does not matter. The Greatest Pride is in rising in our own eyes, not falling down or stooping to the level of others. How much ever we are tested, whereever we go, whatever we do- we should live our character. Our commitment is to our character. Our commitment to rise ourselves is character
Let the Limitation of the world not limit us. "Someone is wrong" isnt an excuse for us to be wrong. Wrong as a response to wrong isnt the way. An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind (Mahatma Gandhi)
Let us never trade our goodness. At every opportunity, let us get ahead of people, not get even with them.
Our organisation is the best organisation. Uncle and Aunties, conveners, workers and devotees are perfect. Swamy is perfect. Acceptance of them, the way they are as, perfect is the key.
ReplyDeleteWe can write a thesis on how bad they are and it will get great attention. The bad in this world always makes new and attracts attention and this message is to Praveen and to veery one reading this blog. But how much do we allow the good to blow its trumpet.
Why not the blog on selflessness on our conveners, activeworkers and devotees. We can argue there aren't any. We do not see them because we are not looking out for them. The eyes cannot see what the mind is not looking out for!
Why should we not be going out and speaking to the world all the good you know about Sai devotees in Dubai and elsewhere. Let us Tell friends and relatives of the virtues of being in Swamy's fold. Let us Stick a bulletin about all the qualities of our coworkers we are proud of. Let us gossip more by the extraordinary things ordinary devotees and active workers have done in their lives. Let the grapevine know we bear ill will and strife against none in this world
Shout scream, write, speak, blow the trumpet, make noise. Let us impress the word and impress our own Sai fraternity that our fraternity is actually good. The only side effect of our goodness is that the world around us will become good. Let us goodness become contagious to the world!
Thinking out loud, SABN Sir
ReplyDeleteThey do not respect us. They disrespect us. We have to tolerate them. We have to respect them
They do not follow the teachings of Swamy. They do not follow their own words (in fact they swallow their own words) ut we have to follow the letter and spirit of Swamy's words
They are concerned about their interests and their family's interest. They will make their children sing, they will make their children sit in first rows, they will make their children read and give flowers to Swamy, while we watch them and appreciate it. We have to sacrifice, we hvae to smile at this . And when it comes to our chance, our family, we have to be selfless
They will not be fair. They can never to equal to everybody. But we have to be fair
They will punish us. We have to love them.
For argument sake, I will accept all this.
But I have a question not to you Sir (because you will give me a PHD thesis answer) but to myself.
Is it possible, socially, emotionally, physically, biologically for human to tolerate physical pain, emotional stress, monetary loss not in this wide crude world but at the hands of our SAI brothers and sisters and still smile, do good and love everyone. One has to be a Buddha, Gandhi or Socrates to do this. A normal devotee who in name of Swamy , thinks of expressing his love to Swamy by doing a few hours of service , after a busy day of politicking and subservience at office, and despite myriads of relationship, financial and medical problems in his life, cannot be expected to show such exalted , mature and holier than Pope attitude in our organisation that you speak of
SABN Sir, I will fall at your feet if you are such individual. We do not see such examples
WHat we resist persists. Ego is resistance to reality. But Resistance is also neccessary. If I have a cold and I do not resist it with a medicine, it will make me ill. We need to resist the wrong that happens in the organisation. If there is misuse of funds- no point saying everything is Swamy's wish and we do nothing in a fatalistic manner.
Speaking up,challenging,questioning is in my opinion, very much acceptable. Even unofficial forums such as blogs website etc to educate the people, to make people sensitive to these issues are not wrong.
We are not seeking murder and violence. All we are seeking is some opportunity and platform to voice our concerns. We do not care if they do not heed to our concerns ut at least they should listen to us
In Summary, despite all that you have said SABN, I will still support Praveen in his efforts to challenge them via this blog!
Shall we agree to disagree?????
Brother/Uncle Anonymous!
ReplyDeletePHD thesis answers are inevitable. I am an inimitable member of our fraternity of humble immortals- Give us "an inch, we will take an yard" when it comes to singing, seating, speaking or writing......
The higher you go in the organisation "Silence" is a custom more honoured in the breach than in the observance! Having gone up in the organisation (and fallen) the habit stays- Old Habits die hard!
We will agree to disagree!
I am wondering who Anonymous could be- AS or VU or outside of Dubai
Are you from Dubai?
"Silence" is a custom more honoured in the breach than in the observance!
ReplyDeleteWhat a convoluted, incomprehensible and meaningless load of ........ drivel. Very droll I should say and typical of how our conveners keep on speaking or writing endlessly and mindlessly. You must have no doubt been a convener yourself???
My identity is a secret. Let us say I was ex Dubai active worker!
"....meaningless load of ........drivel". Hmmmm
ReplyDeleteWhat Next?
I have spent half an hour going through both sets of comments, and I should suggest that it would make little sense to pursue the parallel lines of thought further.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, I also feel responsible for the irresponsible act of instigating a lot of discussion on this fathomless topic, which, also seems quite irrelevant.
As mentioned in a new post, the Parthi trip has taught me that the world is far more than 500 people. The same Krishna calls, and in greater earnest, through a displaced Pakistani than a well-placed devotee. Service is the song of Sai, and true service does not need an audience. I have discovered my calling, and I hope you will too.
In Sai with love, P.