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I am the Soul
715 “Shiva! It's not your head that I want. But the responsibility of protecting this country and its culture rests on your head. Take this saffron cloth and rule the country under its watchful eye.”
Brothers! You know that this saffron flag flutters on Shivaji's forts. Even today the respect that this saffron flag begets is a gift of Swami Ramadas. This was Shivaji the true son of the earth, in this age. He showed history how the disciple-hood of a disciple should be. He not only dedicated himself, but his entire kingdom.
This tradition also continues in the spiritual culture. Bhagawan Mahaveer had eleven ganadhars and they had 4,400 disciples. When the ganadhars dedicated themselves one by one, and accepted the disciple-hood of the Prabhu, their disciples too, who numbered 500 in one case and 400 in another, and 300 in yet another, dedicated simultaneously. Nobody waited to deliberate upon the issue or to ask anybody. When Indrabhuti and others dedicated themselves, along with them their disciples too bowed down at the feet of Mahaveer without a question. This is called total and absolute dedication. This is the true joy of life.
Once, a brilliant young man approached Mahatma Kabir. After saluting him he said, “Mahatmaji! I have a serious question”.
“What is it?”
“I know you. I have faith in you. You are capable of delving deep into the human mind and measuring its depths. That is why I have come to you. I am now grown up. I have to decide the direction for my life. So you please tell me, what should I do? Should I marry and settle down in householder's life or should I become an ascetic and accept the path of renunciation? Which of these two paths should I select?”
Kabir thought, the youth looks bright and able. His question too is appropriate. So he should also get an appropriate reply.'
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