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of disrespect will set them off. When just one word sets you off, what will you do when the whole load falls on you and you have to deal with it? It takes just one word to tear you apart. Say if you add 5 pounds of salt in 100 gallons of milk, the milk has the capacity to absorb it: it will not curdle up. But here with just one word, you fall apart!
Nirmaani: the ego of being pride-less
There are many 'saints' who walk around claiming to be nirmaani' (free from wanting maan i.e. free from wanting respect and importance). This will not work in religion. Have you ever seen a nirmaani person? A nirmaani person can be considered nirahamkari, can he not?
Questioner: Yes, ego-free.
Dadashri: Be careful; do not ever say that. People, who are nirmaani, have the ego of being nirmaani (free from wanting maan). They have the ego of, 'Tam a nirmaani. And proud people (maani) have the ego of maan. The ego of a proud man is better, but in which lifetime will a nirmaani get rid of his ego of being nirmaani? The ego of not having pride is a subtle ego, once you have it; it is very hard to get rid of. Such a nirmaani will keep telling everyone, 'I am nirmaani ... I am nirmaani. 'There is a subtle ego behind that. Gross ego is better because even other people will tell you that you have so much ego that you walk around with an inflated chest. Would people say that or not? But in the other case, there is no one to tell him so - no one to tell him off, so his ego will continue to grow day by day. That is why I have to say this directly to such nirmaani people, 'understand this otherwise you will end up wandering around. You will have to become ego-free (nirahamkari). Just being nirmaani alone will not do.' Do you understand what nirmaani means?
When I give you Gnan, you become nirahamkari (egofree). It is a big ego to be a nirmaani. Alas! That lafru
(something that possess a person) is very big. This lafru of maan i.e. wanting importance and recognition is better; it is docile. Someone will come and tell you, 'why are you walking around with your chest inflated? Will people not comment this way? You yourself may comment to a maani, 'Even I don't walk around with inflated chest when I am working so why are you?' But no one will make a comment or say anything to a nirmaani. The state of a nirmaani is a state of subtle ego. What does this mean? It means his external 'horns' have been cut off but his internal ones still remain. Neither external nor internal 'horns' are acceptable. Internal horns will create an internal sting but he does not hurt anyone externally, does he? For him everything on the outside is clean and proper. His servants take out the bedbugs and mosquitoes for him, so he does not have anything bothering him on the outside and neither does he have any external problems or afflictions. But how will the inner stinging leave him alone? The inner stinging is more intense. Have you ever seen or experienced inner stinging?
Questioner: I have seen it and experienced it too.
Dadashri: So one will have to become ego-free, being nirmaani alone will not do. Nirmohi: the ego of being without attraction
or infatuation Questioner: Dada then there is another word nirmohi' that needs clarification.
Dadashri: Nirmohi is not a complete word. Nirmohi does not mean that one is completely without attachment. We cannot use the word nirmohi for a person whose illusion has gone away completely. Therefore, nirmohi is not a state of the end of his illusion (moha). We can use the word anasakta, which means free from fascination or infatuation, but we cannot use the word nirmohi. Where is the word nirmohi applicable?