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Aptavani-9
431
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Aptavani-9
Questioner: Or is it called the ego?
Dadashri: How can you say it is the ego? It is all done to hide things about one's self. The one who does not have anything to hide does not care about what the world says about him. Do you think such a person goes around asking 'what were they saying about me?' Say whatever you have to say about 'us', say it in our presence. 'We'would worry only if 'we' had something to hide, would 'we' not?
Why not say it in our presence? Therefore 'we do not inquire to see what people might be saying behind our' back. People can create whatever types of 'echoes' they want to say whatever they want to). The poor man is saying so from his own understanding. Does he understand all this? All he knows is how to eat, and even then he makes a mess while eating!
Questioner: Indeed, when you explain with such clarity, that this is a huge stumbling block, then we understand.
Dadashri: You should make yourself (your relative self) such that nothing anyone says behind your back, no matter how hurtful, will affect you even in the slightest from within.
Arey! Are you aware that people even eavesdrop on conversations too! What kind of worthless people are these? If others talk about you, you must be at fault somewhere, would you not? If someone is talking about you, it is because there may be some fault in you, is that not so? Otherwise, who is there to blame you? And how unworthy of you to listen in on that which is not meant for your ears! If someone were to see you eavesdropping, how terrible would that person feel? It is a terrible fault
Let the whole world talk if they want to. Many people tell me, 'Dada, this is what they were saying about you. 'I tell them, "That is fine. They are saying good things.' Then they tell me, *They are also printing it in the newspapers. 'I tell them, 'So
much the better if they print it in the newspaper. On the contrary, at least people will get to know this Dada now, will they not?' I would be concerned and have fear only if the fault were to exist within me. So let the world bray; what effect can it have on the one who is strong?
Questioner: How is it for the one who has made a resolute decision (nischaya) never to deviate from this path?
Dadashri: That nischaya (resolution) has been made, but along with this he also has a desire for a worldly goal, does one not? That is a fault; that is one fault. There still lie many such faults within. One will need to get rid of all these faults, right?
Therefore, you should not care about what others say behind your back. Otherwise it confirms that you are at fault. Why did you make the mistake of listening secretly? It is because you are the guilty one is that not so? Will you not have to understand this? How long can you go on like this? What do you think about all this? Here one wants liberation but at the same time, he continues being the way he was in his worldly life. How can the two exist simultaneously?
Therefore, is it not critical to understand this point too? You can never predict how life will unfold in front of you, however if you have such weaknesses within, should they not be destroyed?
What can happen when forces that destroy your goal, arise? Do you know what a tiniest mistake that you cannot detect can do? It can completely delude you. Once deluded, what huge mistakes one commits! Then the raging ego will take over.
Therefore, one should not try to listen in on someone's private conversation with the intent of knowing 'What are they saying about me?' And why the interest in this?! It is because of one's own deceit (kapat). Deceit will never help you; not
