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Aptavani-4
139
induced problems), you will hear the resounding trumpets of moksha.
Questioner: How can we maintain equanimity?
Dadashri: What do you mean how can it be maintained? Just look at this man (mahatma), does he have equanimity (samata) or not? Why don't you just ask him? There has to be equanimity during times of upadhi (externally induced misery); otherwise how can you call it a religion? What you have practiced so far cannot be called true religion. You can say it is indeed real religion when it is present even when someone insults you or picks your pocket. Religion does not help you, does it?
Questioner: No, it does not.
Dadashri: That means that you have not been sincere to religion. In this Kaliyug (the current era of the time cycle characterized by lack of unity in mind, speech and body) no one is sincere to religion. When a person cannot stay sincere to his brother or his wife, how is he to remain sincere to his religion? People go to worship every day with their little silver boxes. So I asked God, “Lord! So many come to worship you every day and yet why are you not pleased with them?” And the Lord says, “They all come and do darshan (devotional viewing) of me, but at the same time they are thinking about the slippers they have left outside the temple, that someone might come and steal, and alas, they are even preoccupied with thoughts about their shops and businesses. So tell me, am I at fault here? How can I be pleased with them?”
So then, people ask me, 'How should we do darshan (worship)?' Then I explain it to them: ‘When you go for your worship, say to your shoes, “I am telling you, as per Dada Bhagwan's agna (directive) that you can leave if you want to, or you can stay if you like”. Do this, and then you can do your darshan. And when you return and discover that your shoes are
