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.....

Me, My Guru - on including sadhan in daily routine

 

Me, My Guru - on including sadhan in daily routine

“You talk about developing (Divine qualities). But it is not so easy. We are so busy in life that we are left with no time to sadhan” complained one among us.

“Then make those acts of your life that keep you busy your means to sadhan” replied our Guru even without waiting for a second.

“How can we do that in our daily life?” asked another.

“Simple! By using every situation to bring out, practice and strengthen Divine Qualities. Sadhan is another name to develop Divine qualities, reduce or overcome our weaknesses and to be aware of Self. Take selflessness for e.g. – It is a Divine quality that needs to be developed by all. There are no second thoughts on that. Selfishness is our weakness. To overcome selfishness, develop selflessness. The best way to do that is by sharing. Today, in lunch one brought chips, other curd rice, the third brought some sweets. One brought curry and the other plan rice. Quantity is not important. When everyone gets even little each, it ends up being a buffet. On buffet we don’t have more than 2 spoons of anything. So though quantity was less, it sufficed because we had many items. This way it was not a burden for anyone in cooking and financially. Yet, they experienced a sense of self-esteem, joy and satisfaction. That can’t be earned by just ‘wanting’ those qualities. These qualities develop in us only when we share. And over and above that we also overcome fear in certain ways. It was a routine but used to develop one quality and overcome one weakness” explained our Guru. 

Contd....

# me my guru, divine qualities, character, attitudes, selfishness, selflessness, daily routine of life, sadhan, including sadhan in daily routine of life, life is to develop qualities and overcome weaknesses, human weaknesses, sins and character, 

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=sadhan+in+daily+routine 

Points to ponder : 

Life is not about desiring, achieving and maintaining. It is about expressing how you wish to express yourself as!

If we are ever desiring to manipulate through words to get things from others, we can't expect to be content, love self, respect self. 

Respect for self is essential for loving self! No person can love himself unless he is honest and pure.

Purity in character is compromised by leading life with qualities such as lying, jealousy, ingratitude, lust (desiring for things of this world), anger, attachments, ego and arrogance.

Understanding post :

" Take selflessness for e.g. – It is a Divine quality that needs to be developed by all. There are no second thoughts on that. Selfishness is our weakness " - Here though example is given for selfishness, don't stop your understanding and application there. Apply the same rule, same understanding and application formula for other weaknesses like indiscipline, greed, lying, dishonesty, laziness, postponement, insincerity, irresponsibility, self-pity etc....

Me, My Guru - On perception - Bhagavatam

...contd....

“Man’s character is tested in a given circumstance ONLY”.

 

We can go to any lengths to prove Rama and Krishna right or wrong. It doesn’t make an ounce of difference to both of them. I can go around defaming Koran or Gita. It doesn’t affect both the scriptures. Both these characters and scriptures are not at our mercy for their validation. They don’t require us. We require them to guide us, to give us direction and insight and show us a ‘possibility’.

I am not here to prove to you that Krishna is an Avataar. My belief is mine. You are free to choose your belief. But, I am here to talk about a ‘possibility’ called Krishna – An Ideal who is a perfect blend of karmayogi and Gnanayogi; A master statesman, house-holder and a man who lived all his roles to perfection and yet was an epitome of detachment. Every relation was lived to give love to the other. He didn’t expect anything from anyone. As statesman he didn’t take any post and yet worked for the welfare and safety of Yadavas. He was ever favourable to the ‘righteous’ and a yogi who was realized. He is a ‘Perfect Possibility’ that can be lived in this ‘big bad world’.

He was not God because he did miracles.

He did miracles because he was God!

There is a huge difference between both these sentences.

We can argue, cry and plead helplessness saying ‘he had powers so could face problems’. No he had ‘qualities like love, piety, forbearance, humility, selflessness, detachment, hard work, clarity of thought, wisdom and knowledge of right and wrong’ and they gave him yogic powers. Anybody who develops these qualities can also gain these yogic powers. But if anybody develops these qualities to receive these powers, he wouldn’t get them. Now that’s the paradox and there lies the catch. So, reading ‘his stories’ is to understand the qualities that made him ‘who he was’. We get to know the qualities that we need to develop to raise our potential to the fullest.

“I’ll get those qualities if I get power”. No, my dear, it doesn’t work out that way. You develop those qualities and then you get those powers. There are no short-cuts there”.

Padma brought tea and we had tea break. Aziz had got some biscuits that he distributed to all. The break was meant to be of 15mts.

...contd...

On mind games – Assumptions of mind!

 Contd.....

On mind games – Assumptions of mind!

“Stupidity” drives us on a path that robs us of our energies. We feel weak – physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. It is this same stupidity that helps us to develop counter-productive qualities like jealousy, low self-esteem, depression, hatred, anger and self-pity.

Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to know that there is a ‘release’ from this stupidity with us!??

All we need to do is stop supporting our ‘asuric qualities’.

Next, start developing qualities that would give us more energy and strength from within. They are qualities like patience, trust, selflessness, calm and being cheerful.

Mastering our senses is the pre-requisite to becoming ‘great’. Work on that!

Concluded....

****

# mind, mind games, illusion, ego, maya, assumptions, fear, basis of fear, attack and defence, 

also read on similar topic : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=why+to++collect+this+illusion%3F 

and

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=kasturi

Questions addressed and answered :

• What are the qualities that rob us of our energies?
• Why do we feel weak?
• Some people are energetic but I feel weak most of the time. Why? 
• What are the qualities to be developed that would strengthen us as a human being?
• What is the pre-requisite to being 'great'?
• 'Maam, I want my child to be a genius. What do I do?' 

Why when an answer is given, it is not taken?

Contd.....

Why when an answer is given, it is not taken?

It is assumed many times by many that ‘person’ who is entitled to give advice gets his receiver to follow it, whereas the same advice given by some other person is not considered by the receiver!

I’ll give one example. Once one student came to me and said ‘This person in my life is not behaving the way I expect her to. I don’t know how to correct her. I have shouted all these 10 years and yet no results. Suggest something’ and I said “let go of anger”.

After few weeks, he came and when I asked “How come you look so happy?” he replied “Thanks maam, I followed your advice. I ‘let go’ of my spouse. I am so happy now”

Well, I’ll leave my ‘happiness’ at receiving that ‘credit’ to your imagination. If I giving an advice make the difference, then what happened here? And, why?

So, you see, both receiver and giver are to be ‘right’ for any advice to be implemented. 

Mockingly, many times  I have been told by the ‘husbands’ ‘sankamlo posthene theertham’ – “I told her the same thing so many times and yet she didn’t listen. Now you say the same she followed it.” I have seen the anger, frustration and envy at that level so many times – yes, directed towards me.

Sankamlo posthene theertham” – it means water when poured through ‘divine conch’ is considered as ‘sacred water’. It means water is water everywhere. But, when it is poured through conch it becomes sacred. People use this to taunt others too.

Think about it! How come ordinary water poured through the conch becomes sacred but the same water poured from the vessel is considered ordinary drinking water? 

Where is the difference?

What does conch represent here?

What does water represent here?

The answer to these questions will give you ‘the qualities’ required in the giver for the advice to reach the receiver.

Will sum up once you process these questions for a while.........

# advice, qualities required for receiver and giver of advice, intent, healing, self pity, solution, problem, 

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=bejan 

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=shakuni

Points to be understood :

• What are the qualities required in the receiver of the 'advice' for it to reach him?
• What are the qualities required in the giver of the 'advice' for it to reach the receiver of it?
• Why these qualities are important?
• What has intent and state of mind of the receiver and giver matter at all while giving advice?