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Aptavani-9
23
Aptavani-9
Whereas men hold on to the ego, 'I told you to do this but you did that!' That is obstinacy (aadayee).
Questioner: So is the flowing ego the same as the dramatic ego - the ego that plays the role of the worldly life without attachment?
Dadashri: It is the dramatic ego. There is no problem with the flowing ego. If men have a flowing ego, there is no problem. It is obstinacy when they hold on to the ego. Obstinacy leaves by 'knowing that it has
occurred Questioner: Once a person realizes he has been obstinate, how can he turn it around if he wants to?
Dadashri: The fact that he knows that obstinacy has occurred, verily means that he is turning around. 'He' (the one who has awakened) turns back the instant he knows' (inner experience of Knowledge - anubhav) that obstinacy is occurring He cannot turn back as long as he does not know and 'knowing' means he will definitely turn around.
Questioner: What other adjustments does one have to take to turn around?
Dadashri: Nothing else, 'he' will turn around automatically. Whatever process is necessary, 'he' will turn around with that process. There are processes (vidhis) of adjustments. If one has taken Gnan, he will come to know' 'his'obstinacy, but not otherwise. And here, he directly begins to see his faults.
Questioner: One turns around when he knows his obstinacy (aadayee). How does he know the obstinacy? How does he recognize it?
Dadashri: He will recognize it immediately. If he has taken 'our' Gnan, then he will immediately recognize that he is starting to become obstinate. He will immediately know whether
his worldly interaction is within acceptable norms or not.
Questioner: But how can one recognize his own obstinacy?
Dadashri: He will know if he has our Gnan. He will not otherwise and even if he knows, he would cover it up and continue to remain obstinate. One can know because of the power of our Gnan.
Questioner: What is it to cover up obstinacy? Dadashri: Covering up the obstinacy is double obstinacy.
Questioner: Then there is no scope of getting rid of the original obstinacy, is there?
Dadashri: On the contrary, it increases.
Questioner: But our main aim is to get rid of obstinacy from its very roots, is it not? What should we do there?
Dadashri: You will not be able to do it yourself if you try. You should ask me how it is and I will tell you 'Brother, get rid of this obstinacy.'
Questioner: There is obstinacy to begin with and then he covers it up, that is double the obstinacy. Then that obstinacy will not allow him to open up and ask. What should he do there?
Dadashri: But someone like me will ask, 'Where are you going? Which town' do you have to go to (What is your spiritual destination)?' Most people are such that if you tell them as it is: they will take the opposite way. In spite of you speaking candidly to them and they will take the obstinate path. Therefore, I have to twist things around before I say anything to them. Their spiritual state is still weak, is it not? I have to sweettalk them in order to get the work done. We have to explain things to little children.
Questioner: They all look like children and you have to