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I am the Soul
281 Now look! Had he asked to stand up or spoken with affection? But do such jivas understand? Why! Once I had a similar experience. A lady came from out-station for Darshan. With a view to express welcome, I asked,
“Aha! So you are here for Darshan?”
"Why! Am I not supposed to come?" pat came the caustic retort, and I was stunned. “My dear Aunt! I merely asked so you should not feel that nobody cared for you. Why once, who is going to object even if you came half a dozen times?' Look, there are people even with such a mentality that if you say anything to them naturally, they will misundertstand it.
Brothers! Doesn't this happen in your life too? And how many fights and enmities for such reasons? And how far does it all go? What a great loss for want of just straightforwardness! How poisoned does life get? Just think, if in material life the lack of straightforwardness wreaks such havoc, then what it could do in the spiritual path! How much damage it could cause! Hence, the lack of straightforwardness has been mentioned as the indication of a Matarthi.
The last indication of a Matarthi has been mentioned as the absence of equanimity. Equanimity is a very high quality. A person with equanimity has subdued passions and an impartial intellect. There is equipoise in his life. Whatever the circumstances, there is very little anxiety in him. Only a person sans anxiety can understand the truth and practice it in life; can remain stable and progress in the journey towards infinity.
Who is said to be equanimous? When there are two parties over a dispute, with both stuck on their own arguments, with no solution available, and with a likelihood of a conflict, an impartial umpire is invited to satisfy both of them. Someone who listens to the arguments of both parties, and without leaning towards any one of them, delivers justice is an equanimous one. Like a Judge in a Court.
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