Aptavani 01

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Dada Bhagwan Foundation

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And if there is a foul-tempered cow, she will readily hurt anyone, even if not provoked. These are natural traits. Foreigners are very straightforward; they will say yes to you if they want to help you and no if they don't want to, but they will not lie to you. They have a propensity towards both reactions. If they are straightforward, they are completely so and if they are crooked, they are completely crooked. People of India are not spontaneous or natural. They used to be natural during satyug (First of the four phases of the time cycle characterized by virtue, wisdom and morality) to the point of ideality. In India there was a classification of four major casts: the Brahmins - the priests, scholars and thinkers, Kshatriya - the warriors; Vaishya - the businessmen and Shudra - the working class, commonly referred to as the 'untouchables'. This classification was indicative of different levels of development amongst people. Now this development has reached its zenith. Even the sons of carpenters are extremely intelligent. Spontaneity and naturalness in people during the satyug was absolute and complete and it peaked to such heights that it gradually started to decline. That is the law of nature. People began to exploit the four classifications. They became condescending and arrogant towards the untouchables and insulted them. They misused their intellect to hurt others and gradually became hostile and rude. India began to loose its luster. People became so obstinate and despicable that their conduct became demon-like. Alas! If they came across a twenty-year-old widow, instead of consoling her they would look upon her as a bad omen. The fools! A widow is considered personification of the holy River Ganges, how can you call her an ill omen? Then came the British to rule India. Their natural disposition and spontaneity began to mingle with the unnatural, obstinate and rude tendencies of the Indians and this brought the Indians some relief.
This was all a result of an excess of everything here. Now
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a new dawn is rising for India. Elsewhere there is dusk but in India, this new dawn will lead to full light. Since 1942, I have been saying that by the year 2005, India will become the center of the world. Currently it is in the process of becoming one. People from all over the world will come to India to learn the art of living. They will come to learn what is normal. At the moment everyone has become so above normal that they do not know how to live anymore. Despite having so many material comforts, they have to resort to taking sleeping pills. You are taking poison! You have gone so far past the limits of what is normal, that you have lost nature's gift to mankind - the gift of sleep. How can you call this living? Alas! You have gone all the way to the moon but how did it benefit you? Has going to the moon, eliminated the sleeping pills for you?
The State Of The Aspirant
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Who can be called a sadhu (ascetic)? Anyone who attains the Self is a sadhu. A sadhu's conduct is always focused towards liberation. However, the conduct of the sadhus of these times is contradictory. It is focused on liberation but it also creates more bondage. They earn one hundred merit points for their rituals of samayik and pratikraman, but when they become aggravated with their disciples, they lose a hundred and fifty points. One is only able to work continuously towards one's liberation after having acquired the Self. A true sadhu means to progress towards the state of absolute liberation. Nevertheless no one is to be blamed; no one is at fault here. They are all trapped because of ignorance; it is not their wish to bind new karma.
Karma: Merit And Demerit
There is only Soul and matter (parmanu - sub-atomic matter) in this world. When you make someone happy or give peace to them, atoms of merit karma (punya) are attracted and when you cause misery to others, atoms of demerit karma (paap)