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"HOW I LOOK AT MYSELF!" (2)
51
--discipline, for instance which evolves out of mutual cooperation; without the active feeling of interdependence, there can be no growth of discipline.
The master wants his servant to be disciplined, but if the servant finds the master lacking in proper appreciation of his services, if he feels degraded as a human being, he will never be inspired by true discipline; on the contrary, a feeling of reaction to injustice would grow. With the active feeling of interdependence, however, discipline comes of itself.
It is very difficult to take work from another, unless there subsists an active feeling of interdependence between men. However, with mutual cooperation, it is the easiest thing in the world to receive or offer assistance. In our religious order there was a learned and highly-celebrated ascetic, Muni Magan Lal, lovingly nicknamed as "Mantri muni". He was greatly revered, almost second to the Acharya. He had grown old and there were many young monks to look after his needs. At times, the monk assigned to the Mantri muni would forget to fetch drinking water for him-an hour would elapse and the Mantri muni would suffer thirst in silence, without saying a word. Nor would the Mantri munireproach the young monk on the latter's return. Sometimes, out of his own sense of guilt at neglecting his duty, the monk would ask forgiveness of the Mantrimuni and then Mantri muni would say, “Don't mention it please! You've much to do. You keep so busy, and yet you find time to look after an utterly useless old man like me, who cannot even get up by himself, who cannot even walk. I say this is great!" No amount of reprimand or reproach would have awakened in the young monk the feeling which the artless words of the old man did. The young monk was filled with an ardent desire to do his utmost in the service of his revered Mantri muni.
How does it come about? -- that reverent feeling. Out of mutual consideration, of course. A mere upbraiding of the attendant-monk would have created reaction and unkind thoughts in his mind. But the right appreciation of his services, notwithstanding his omissions, served to fill the young monk with reverence.
Mutual cooperation is the one great attribute of social life. The more fully is this truth appreciated, the greater the evolution of discipline in a particular society. Discipline cannot be imposed from without; it is inborn. It is not like the stagnant pond-water, the result of rain from the outer atmosphere. Rather it is like the water of an eternal fountain springing from the earth. There is the water which rains from the sky, and there is the water emanating from the earth. The water in the well is part of a running stream and wherever water comes out of the earth, it flows from running springs and reservoirs. Water flows in mighty currents from the mountains.
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