Essence of All Religion

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Dada Bhagwan Foundation

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The essence of all religion
nun, preacher or religious head.
Dadashri: Avarnavaad means to not tell it like it is. To paint a wrong picture about anyone is avarnavaad. For example, everyone has good and bad qualities. To talk only about the bad qualities, and not give credit for the good qualities is avarnavaad. You should say, 'He lacks in this manner, but in that manner he is very good!' Varnavaad is to say something as it is, and avarnavaad is to say things contrary to the facts.
To say anything negative about a Self-Realized person is the most extreme form of avarnavaad. This has grave consequences.
Questioner: Does this include the monks, nuns and the preachers?
Dadashri: Yes, all those. It does not matter if they are on the right path or not, whether they are Self-Realized or not, it is not for you to see. After all, are they not followers of Lord Mahavir? Whatever they may be doing, they are doing it in His name. Therefore, we cannot say anything false about them.
Questioner: What is the difference between avarnavaad and viradhana?
Dadashri: Viradhana takes you to lower gatis, (lower life forms), whereas with avarnavaad, there will be no consequences if pratikraman is done afterwards. So if you do pratikraman after having done avarnavaad, everything becomes clear again.
Questioner: Please explain avinaya and viradhana.
The essence of all religion
Dadashri Avinaya is not considered viradhana. Avinaya is an attitude of 'I have nothing to do with it, it does not concern me."
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Whereas in viradhana you are saying things contrary to the facts. For example, when you say that a person is dishonest when really he is an honest man. Therefore you have deliberately defamed him.
If you speak in this manner about ordinary people, it is called ninda (slander), but it is considered extreme viradhana when you talk this way about 'higher' or antarmukhi (spiritually elevated) people. It is very risky. It is a grave mistake.
Questioner: What is aparaadh?
Dadashri : The one who does aradhana rises and the one who do does viradhana falls. But the one who is doing aparaadh suffers from both sides. The person with aparaadh does not progress himself, nor does he let anyone else progress. Such a person would be called apraadhi.
Questioner: Even in viradhana one would not let others progress, right?
Dadashri But comparatively, the person with viradhana is better. If someone were to show him the right direction, he would turn around. But an apraadhi will neither turn around nor advance.
Questioner: But is there a chance for the one with viradhana to turn around?
Dadashri: Yes, there is a chance for turning around.