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[11] Purusharth Against Bad Qualities of Prakruti
Questioner: Dada, abhorrence results from attachment, does it not?
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Dadashri: Yes, it is the result of attachment. When you become overly attached to someone, you will experience abhorrence towards him. Anything that is done in excess will lead to an initial dislike and then abhorrence. When anything exceeds its limit, one starts disliking it. Excess dislike is abhorrence. Do you understand?
Questioner: Yes, I understand.
Dadashri: You should understand that whatever you encounter are reactions meant for you, or effects of your past causes. When you greet someone with respect and at that time you feel that he has a sour face, then you should understand that it is a reaction to your own past causes (raag). So then what should you do? You should do pratikraman. There is no other solution in this world. How do people who do not have Selfrealization react? They will respond by sulking in return, perpetuating the cycle of attachment-abhorrence. Now that we have become the pure Self, someway or other we need to accept our own mistake and bring an end to it. Even as Gnani Purush 'we' accept all the mistakes and be done with that case.
Pride for the Welfare of Others
Questioner: But, Dada, if one has too many parmanus (subatomic particles) of pride (maan), is that not harmful? Dadashri: Which kind?
Questioner: If we have a pride like, 'Let me do good for this man. Let me do something useful for him.'
Dadashri: No, there is nothing that is harmful in that. The harm is for the one who is contemptuous and has scorn towards others.
What do you consider as harmful pride? It is pride which
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Pratikraman
is in excess; pride which is contemptuous towards others. But, otherwise, there is no problem with the approach of, 'I want to do something good for others."
Questioner: When I analyze it, I feel I have a deepseated desire for respect and a good image of myself. It is not to take advantage of others but to do good for others. (202)
Dadashri: This pride that you are talking about is what has brought you here (to the Gnani Purush). If you did not have such pride within you, you would be somewhere else right now.
Questioner: Because, where a temple of Simandhar Swami is concerned, I feel that I want to compete for it.
Dadashri: You will not find that kind of talk in this world anywhere. That is the greatest thing.
What is considered pride? If I tell you something that is likely to hurt someone and the same is then in our conduct, that is considered pride.
But this temple part will make people very happy. For the one who gets up in the morning and has bhaav (love) towards the Lord (Simandhar Swami), Dada has complete bhaav for him. Therefore, this is a very good thing. This kind of thing does not occur. Then whether the temple gets built or not, it is of no consequence. But it is a very good thing to have such an elevated bhaav. Do you understand everything?
Questioner: Yes. That bhaavna (desire, intent in discharge) is constantly there that, 'I want to do something...I want to do something.' And no matter how much I do, I feel that I have not accomplished anything.
Dadashri: Yes, You will feel that way. It is as if your hunger is never satisfied! That is a great thing. Only one who has brought forth great merit karma (very punyashadi), this person attains such a desire!
