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So then I investigated within and I could see that my maan surfaced everywhere and that was the very thing that had gnawed away at me. Let me tell you what I did to gain respect. Everyone used to address me as, 'Ambalalbhai', no one would call me 'Ambalal'. And so I became accustomed to being addressed as 'Ambalalbhai'. Now because I had a lot of pride, I would protect it. If someone was in a hurry and failed to say my full name, was that such a terrible thing to do? How can a person say such a long name in a hurry?
Questioner: But would you not expect that?
Dadashri: Then I weighed the incident in my mind. 'He called me Ambalal? Who does he think he is? Could he not say Ambalalbhai?' Now he (Ambalal) had some land in the village and nothing else but what did he think himself to be? 'I am an Amin from six-village of Vakad-rightful demanders of dowry from the bride's parents. Don't we also have Desais of Vakad? Even they think a fat lot of themselves, too.
Now if someone failed to address me as 'Ambalalbhai', I would not be able to sleep. I would be restless the whole night. What was I going to get out of .that? Was it going to sweeten my mouth? How selfish can a man be? Such selfishness has no taste, yet one assumes it and takes it on due to societal influenceloka sangnya. People elevated him—Ambalal, put him on a pedestal and believed he was praiseworthy too. Hey! What are you going to do with what people believe?
Just because the cows and buffalos look at you and wag their ears back and forth, does that mean they are looking upon you with respect or that they are admiring you? This is how everything is. We might think they are watching us with respect. It is simply in your head. But really everyone is caught up in his own miseries; everyone is caught up in his own worries. No one has time for you. No one has any time for you.
It was all for maan
I had told everyone, "Come and get your work done from me, whatever it may be. If you wan advise etc., whatever else I have! I will also give you money if I have some. You do not have to do my work but I will do yours. This way you will not have any fear or uncertainties from my end because you do not have to do anything for me. If I was going home after a
