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138
Aptavani-4
Dadashri: It can only be called religion if it gives you inner stillness. It comes to aid you in situations like when someone insults you. All this is nothing but unnecessary running and rushing around. People have worn down the steps of temples and derasars (Jain temples), and even the marble stones have been worn away. But nothing has been accomplished. If religion does not help you, then you cannot call it religion. If I did you a favor five times, you would stand by me when I need you, whereas here, you practice religion every day and it does not stand by you, but leaves quickly, even before the time you most need it. How can you call that religion?
One reads religious books every day, he reads so many of them that his mind becomes like a book. The mind itself turns into a book! What has the Lord said? He said that one should know the Atma. Instead, all people keep knowing, is books! What good is that? You do so much in your life, but artadhyan (adverse internal meditation that hurts the self) and raudradhyan (adverse internal meditation that hurts the self and others) still continue! Now what will you do? You have indeed been greatly cheated. All your life, you have been cheated by anger, pride, deceit and greed, and now you are left with nothing. What will you do in times of hardship?
One practices religion for innumerable lifetimes, but it has been a fruitless endeavor, and one's adharma (irreligion; inauspicious and hurtful actions) increases. At the slightest provocation like, "Chandubhai has no sense," he explodes. Even while doing samayik (meditative introspection), or turning prayer beads, he blows up at the slightest provocation. Does that happen or not?
Questioner: Yes, it happens.
Dadashri: Why would that happen, Sir? Isn't it because your equanimity (samata) is not there? Otherwise, when you can maintain equanimity amidst upadhi (externally
