Balance sheet of good and bad qualities

Good and Bad qualities

People usually throw this sentence on my face to make their weakness look very nominal “After all we are humans and each one of us has good and bad qualities. Am I right Guruji? Why even you have your set of negative and positive qualities. It’s natural!”

They think by making such statements they can get away with their weakness. Many times I don’t argue with them on such statements but that doesn’t mean they are right or that I agree with them. This statement itself tells us that they have erred and are arrogant enough not to accept it.

True unless enlightened, everyone is a combination of good and bad qualities. Does that mean that Shakuni and Dronocharya were same? No, certainly not. Shakuni died a pathetic death and Guru Dron was a war hero who transcended his body on his own and then, only his body was slain by Arjuna and even after that (they) Pandavas felt due respect and love with gratitude for their Guru and gave him his due respect.

Shall we have a look at the good and negative qualities of Shakuni and Guru Dronacharya?

Good qualities of Shakuni :

·         Highly intelligent. He was an equal to none other than Krishna in intelligence. Infact, Krishna himself says that only Shakuni could match him in intelligence.

·         He loved his sister like mad.

He let go off his grandeur and easy life as that of King of Khandhar (present day Afghanisthan) and lived in Hastinapur as just a brother of Gandhari and hence a royal guest. He was rebuked for the same by one and all. Only people who respected him and wanted to stay there were Dhritarashtra and Duryodhan and his brother. To be taunted by one and all and to swallow that day in and day out just to protect his sister’s rights is no ordinary love.

·         He was a great warrior.

·         He was player par excellence in the game of dice. Yes, it is also a great ability.

Negative qualities of Shakuni :

·         His blind love for Gandhari, his sister blinded him to such an extent that he resolved to put an end to Kuru dynasty for getting Gandhari married to blind King Dhritarashtra.  He in his hatred did not see the pain Gandhari would’ve to bear due to death of her sons. This ‘hatred’ was the only negative attitude in him that made him use his intelligence (which was on par with Krishna) to destructive purpose.

Even his love for Gandhari became tainted with ‘moham’ attachment as it gave rise to hatred. Unless love is based on Dharma, it becomes ‘lust’. Love creates something beautiful or meaningful. If it is destructive in any area then it is ‘lust’ and not love. Love can never hurt. If it hurts then it is not love.

...contd.....

Few FAQs with Guru

Contd.....

Few FAQs with Guru

(S – stands for student and G- stands for Guru in this post)

G – No. I consider myself greater than Krishna and so let my student commit 100 times more mistakes before I take some action?

S – (Student laughs at her sense of humour) So you too kill them?

G – No, not physically. I just send them away from my life. I don’t get angry and so don’t punish them. I realize by then that no amount of work on them is going to make a change in their attitude for now. After the ‘saturation point’ that I’ve set for them I reached I ask them to go elsewhere. I just stop seeing them and teaching them. What is the fun of meeting each other if we are not good with each other? If I am not of any benefit then the purpose of me being in his life becomes redundant and hence I part as friends with them. No malice nothing! I don’t send them away because I am angry at them. I no more have anything more to offer them. So, I ask them to leave so I can direct my energies on someone else who has and will come seeking what I have to offer them.

No good carrying a dead relationship as ever! Better to say good bye while we still have good feelings for each other!

S – Then they will go to other masters seeking their help.....

G – Good for both of them! Every nut will find its place. A person who wants to run illegal business or relationship has to go elsewhere seeking advice and help. My expertise is limited to ONLY GIVING ADVICE ON DEVELOPING CLARITY OF THOUGHT, HEALING KARMA AND OUTGROWING KAMA, KRODHA, LOBHA, MADA AND MATSARYAM. Not to instigate that in the person. And rightly said by you, there will be people using peoples’ need and greed to their benefit in the guise of being a ‘master’. Good for them and good for the student who goes to them. God bless them both! 

Shakuni wouldn't suite Arjuna and Duryodhan wouldn't benefit from Krishna. Each master unto his student. That's why it is Krishna for Arjuna and Shakuni for Duryodhan. What you are walking towards decides which master you get attracted to!

And that is the beauty and wonderful thing about all this! No master is good for all! No master comes for all! No one master is enough for all!

Each unto his nature and desire!

There is an animal and Divine in each one of us! That is what Vedic philosophy states! And I teach to overcome that animal in us and to light that Divine spark within us. Let only those who want this, stay, let others go where their desires and karma take them!

I work within these parameters only. Just because you demand me to ‘fulfill’ your ‘adharmic’ desires I am not going to break my parameters. 

S - How would you wind up your advice for me?



G - Seek not favours from your master. Seek not pity from your master. Seek not fulfillment of your desires from your master. Seek ways to work towards your Divine Nature. That itself will take take of everything else. 

When you seek blessings, favours, material gains and hold on to animal nature, even when God's bless you, it will not reach you right! 



Be not with a master who works to please you. He will exploit you in more than one ways. He has nothing to offer you. He will use you for his benefit only.

Instead be with a master who gives you pain of losing your lower nature. He is working towards your higher good. He means good for you. He seeks that good which would benefit you for all your future janmas too to come!

And pray that you are given clarity of thought to know the right from the wrong!

Concluded.....

# each unto his deed, master and student,

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=duryodhan+and+shakuni 

Points to be taken : 

• There is an animal within each one of us!
• There is a Divine spark within each one of us!
• Master is one who lets you and shows you to kill the animal within and ignite the Divine within, each time you falter in life.
• The one who promises to fulfill your desires may be called a master - but there are actually different words for such people.
• The one who goes to such people because of one's own greed and nature falls into their trap and gets exploited. 
• It is our weakness that drives us towards such people. Our weakness is at fault. As long as we are weak from within, there will be people who will exploit us. 

Me, My Guru – On purpose of life!

Contd.....

Me, My Guru – On purpose of life!

Gandhi fought for ‘Indians’ in SA and later ‘Ahimsa’ became tool in his ‘purpose of life’ – freedom for India” saying so our Guru became silent.

“My purpose of life is to raise my kid to be a rich and successful person” said one.

“My purpose is to get married and lead a happy married life” said other.

“My purpose is to give a house to my family and provide them with all material comforts” said another.

Most of our purposes were on this line only.

“Your purpose of life decides your destiny. Your intent decides the outcome. See ‘POL’ as the train that takes you to the destination of your life” said our Guru.

“Is that going to work out bad for us?” I asked a bit frightened and tensed. My POL lay in the ‘common area’ of most of the people.

“Shakuni’s POL was to seek power and material success for his sister and her sons. You know that brought down their entire clan.

Shakuni’s love for his sister was very strong and yet because his intent was based on anger, hatred and vengeance the result became painful and suffering became the gift he gave to his ‘dear sister’. His means were based on ‘adharma’ and the result is always ‘destruction and pain’ for such a choice.

End will never justify the ‘means’. Means decides the quality of journey and the results of the life and its fruits.

POL of Dhritarashtra was to make his son King and you know the result.

POL of Karna was to stand by his friend, Duryodhan and what happened? Inspite of being warrior par excellence, man who would give anything and everything in charity, being mind-born son of Sun God, he died a pathetic death. His life was no good either. He didn’t get peace inspite of becoming successful by means of becoming ‘King of Angh’. Why? All because he stood by a wrong person – Duryodhan! 

Contd.....

# purpose of life, happiness, pain and suffering, challenges of life, giving and sharing, 

also read :  https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=Me%2C+My+Guru+-+on+essence+-+Bhagavatam 

If your life is already happening without knowing 'purpose of life', then you can choose to let go to know this now......

Mahabharata - an Indian Epic

Mahabharata-sacred texts

The question was something like "....Excellent but I also have one more question I read in few books that yudushtira was the only one to be offered heaven and all his brothers and wife were offered hell duryodhana who caused the war was offered heaven why? They also say that after the war the kingdom was full if sorrow and unhappy compared to the time duryodhana ruled please explain ...."


After the war of Kurukshetra, like in every war and after every war women lost their sons, husbands and brothers and children became orphans.  The worst hit during and after war is always women and children - both innocent and who don't like and want war.  Pandavas too like them didn't want and like war.  But, they were forced by Duryodhan and his allies to wage war.  They fought not for themselves.  Never make a mistake of coming to that conclusion.  (Usually people justify their fight out of greed and envy using Pandavas stand as an eg...).  If it had been so, they wouldn't have asked for Khandava Vanam (A forest infested by dangerous snakes and demons) to build their empire as their share from King Dhritarashtra.  They could've asked for a prosperous, fertile and equal portion of land as their share from Dhritarashtra and he couldn't have said no to them.

This they asked after Duryodhan tried burning them alive in Vanavrat - building made of wax.  They didnot even fight after this injustice was meted out on them.

Later, when they converted Khandavavan into a prosperous city of Indraprasth, Duryodhan out of envy wanted to take away all their wealth and so hatched a plan along with Shakuni.  According to that plan, Pandavas were invited to Hastinapur, Capital of Kauravas and Pandava's entire kingdom was snatched in gambling by Kauravas.

Later, they were forced to live in forests for 12 years and incognito for one year and the condition kept that if they were recognised, then they had to go and live in forests again for 12 years.....

......contd......

Mahabharata

...contd......

When Yudhistra entered heaven, he went searching for his brothers and wife Draupadi but instead he saw Duryodhan and his friends and brothers.  He was confused and asked about the whereabouts of his family members.  He was told that they were in Hell and he got really very angry and said that he wouldn't stay in heaven where the likes of  Duryodhan, shakuni were and would prefer to be in hell where his family was!

He was led to hell as requested.  There he was shocked  to see his brothers suffering the tortures of hell and he cried out in pain.  All the people present there said they found relief because of his presence and requested him to stay there longer, so that they can be relieved off their sufferings.  Yudhishtra agreed.  The moment he agreed, Lord Yama came and said "You all can go to heaven as you your sins have been paid for with your suffering."  Yudhishtra asked as to what sins they committed for which they were paying for and Lord Yama replied "you all killed your enemies with deceit and hence you have to pay for your deceit!".

Satisfied with the answer, Dharmaraj asked "then, why am I to bear this pain? and why should I experience hell?" and Lord Yama replied "though the war was fought for Dharma, the means used by you were deceitful and hence you were brought to hell by deceit.  You will receive what you give! This is the Law of Karma.  And you had lied once when during the war of Kurukshetra, you had uttered "Ashwathama hatha hatha (the second hatha you just mumbled in your mouth) kunjathaha" there by, instead of the sentence 'Ashwathama named elephant is dead' , it was understood as 'Ashwathama is dead'.  This was mistaken by Guru Drona as his son being dead and he kept down his weapons.  (As per the law of war in those days, once a person - a warrior lays down his arms he can't take it back to fight again!)  And Guru Drona was then killed by Arjuna." 

...contd...

The Epics of India - Mahabharata

...contd...

Vidurani

Vidurani is referred as wife of Vidura in Mahabharata.  Just before the start of Mahabharata war, Krishna comes to talk peace with King Dhritarashtra, but the talks fail - thanks to Duryodhan and his uncle Shakuni.

Duryodhan makes elaborate preparations in the palace for Krishna to stay.  But, Krishan refuses to stay there.  The reasons he gives for his refusal are 1. I take food served with love only and the food served by you - Duryodhana is not served with love and 2. I eat food anywhere when I am desperate for food and am on the verge of dying and now I am neither desperate or dying for want of food.  Having given these reasons, he goes to Vidura's house which was a only small house.  He was not at home as he was not expecting Krishna.  His wife Vidurani was at home and she was overwhelmed to see Krishna.  She warmly welcomed him inside the house, gave him seat to sit and went in to get something to eat.  She found only bananas at home. She brought them to Krishna and peeled them and in the excitement threw away the bananas and gave him peels.  Krishna accepted the peel and was eating them when Vidur entered the house and seeing what was happening he shouted at Vidurani for being so careless as to serve banana peel to the Lord.  Krishna stopped him and said that those were the most delicious peels he ever had!

But, when you read especially our epics, don't read them as stories of some characters and don't try to know some story or anecdote about the various characters.  Learn to see the 'Universal Law' working.  Learn it as you can easily understand through some characters and their life situations. 

For eg: With regards to Vidura's birth, it's very clear that though all three - Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidur had greatest Sage Veda Vyasa as their father - their personalities and physical well-being depended totally on the thought on their respective mothers at the time of conception and the feeling they had for the Sage.

...contd....

For Related Topics also read posts dated:

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Me, My Guru - On essence - Bhagavatam!

...contd....

These were scores of others – Shakuni, Duryodhan, Dushshashan and all others who shut off their eyes unable to bear the brilliance of that Divine form. This shows that not everyone is ‘eligible’ to receive the ‘good’ or ‘Divine’.

“You don’t get what you desire, but what you deserve”.

Because of all impurities like anger, envy, lust, hatred and such qualities filled in their hearts, these people were automatically ‘not worthy of receiving’ Divine Grace. Even if given they can’t receive it. Their body is the cup that can’t take the filling of ‘good’ or ‘Divine’.

So, to receive His Grace or even to get ‘your desires fulfilled’ you should be worthy of it. And that’s where emptying of self of all impurities like anger, lust, envy etc come into picture. So do hands-on regularly” she replied with a smile.

“Then what about Dhritarashtra?” you said once that he was an epitome of ‘moham’ attachment. Then how can he receive the divine grace?”

She seemed ever ready with answers. Was she prepared or what, I had wondered many times!

I heard many answers to the questions posed to them. They gave any answer that came to them. But people like her were actually very few in numbers. To answer a question is not that important as to give appropriate one. People were bowled over with ‘any answer received’. But I over the years have learnt to understand and appreciate ‘Right answer’ to ‘any answer’. Yes, this a commoner would never know. But thanks to my healing sessions and ‘good company’ that I kept I received this understanding and what a priceless treasure was this treasure. I’ve found ‘so-called Gurus’ fooling around with words in the name of answer and I pity people and their students who looked up to them for their answers.

“Lord, doesn’t keep accounts of only bad deeds but also of good deeds – even the ones performed unknowingly or by chance. Dhritarashtra was jealous of his brother Pandu and his sons. He felt Pandu usurped his rights to the throne. He wanted to fulfil his desire of being ‘a king’ through his son knowing full well that Yudhishtra was more eligible and the right candidate for the throne of Kuru dynasty. Moreover, he was son of deceased king of that kingdom i.e., Pandu. Dhritarashtra on the other-hand was only a king on deputation. And that’s why too; his son was not eligible to be a king.

Yet,he, because of being blinded by his ‘lust’ for throne and power was an accomplice in all the plots against Pandavas by his son Duryodhan.

 

(Vidur and Dhritarashtra)

But inspite of having so many negative qualities had one weakness which was a ‘great quality’ in the eyes of Lord i.e., ‘Satsangh’ meaning ‘good company’. Vidura being an avatar of Lord Yama who was the custodian of ‘Dharma’ or righteousness, was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and was also an exponent of ‘Dharma’ – but obviously. He was fearless in speaking about ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ – not based on his likes and dislikes as many of us do, but based on ‘Dharma’ or ‘Law’. Dhritarashtra could never stay without him. Especially at nights, he would seek Vidura’s company and listen to his talk on Dharma, virtues, scriptures and about the qualities and glory of God.

...contd....