== DOING TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES ==
Namaskar,
Not long back I attended a retreat and at the opening ceremony and also in
our ERAWS Departmental meetings Dadas were telling that 'We [margiis] should
engage in some work or activity so that we will feel good about ourselves'. They were
telling that this should be our motivating factor. Plus they were saying, 'If
you do not do something, then how will our seniors be pleased'. So these are
some of the things we margiis are hearing at retreats nowadays. So this is
one of the common problems. Unfortunately those making these types of statements
are oblivious about Baba's teaching.
Baba says, "It is incorrect to say that merely doing good deeds is enough:
People must hold an object of ideation in their minds. And that supreme
object of ideation is Parama Purus'a. Only then if some good action is
performed will it be successful. Now if one wants to do some good deed excluding
Parama'tma' that will not be a good deed. This will be sheer selfishness on
your part, and nothing good can come from it." (26 Feb '71, Jammu)
HOW THE WORLD IS FUNCTIONING THESE DAYS
Due to the mass propagation of the self-centered philosophy of materialism,
there is a huge increase in selfishness. The common people are going far
astray from Baba's above golden guideline.
Nowadays general citizens-- especially those who regard themselves as so-called
advanced people-- rarely do good deeds. And in the those measly few circumstances
when they do seemingly perform "good actions", it is really done out of
self-satisfaction. That is for the sake of their own entertainment. These days
this has become the fad.
And then afterwards they just brag about their own "greatness". They announce
to others about how they did top-level social service. And by saying that they
can feel good (puffed up) and get prestige. This is the on-going trend.
Baba says, "Suppose a certain man donates one thousand rupees to a particular
institution. The next day he looks anxiously for his name in the newspaper.
If his name does not appear in the paper, then with an air of conceit he brags
amongst his kith and kin. “I have donated a thousand rupees, but I do not desire
recognition and therefore I have not published my name in the paper.” The desire
for fame exists in a concealed form in that man’s mind. Clearly, he did not make
the donation with the spirit of service." (SS-1)
THE OUTCOME OF SELFISH ACTIVITIES
But one should understand such so-called good works neither help the individual
nor the collective. Rather it causes or brings about their ultimate degeneration
in all the realms:
1) Those who are "doing the service" look down upon those whom they are serving;
and they end up exploiting them etc.
2) Those who are "doing the service" really want some something return. Such as
name or fame etc. And when if/when they do not get that then they retaliate or r
eact in various ways;
3) Plus they go not recognise the dignity of those human beings whom they are serving.
They do not respect those downtrodden masses. By their arrogant tendency, they
end up imposing an inferiority complex upon those whom they are "serving".
4) They bind themselves in the ocean of negative samskara and bondage by getting
sucked into the never-ending cycle of action and reaction.
5) For their own self-entertainment they lose their vivek. And when they do entertain
themselves often they harm others. For example on the weekend people do various
outlandish things like hunting, fishing, and killing. By this way we can see that
there are all kinds of negative things they do to entertain themselves. All so
that they can satisfy their selfish desires and feel good. Yet all this is a
waste of time-- not to mention destructive.
6) Ultimately such persons degenerate and get totally frustrated.
THE GREATEST THING-- IN THE REAL SENSE
To do work with the sole purpose and motive of pleasing Parama Purusa is the
greatest thing; that is the only good work. And by His grace true devotees do
like this. There is no other way.
Baba says, "When you perform acts with the ideation that the person served is
Náráyańa, there is no possibility of arrogance or the desire for fame growing
in your mind. Then you will realize that through the grace of a'ra'yan'a you have
been given the opportunity of serving Na'ra'yan'a. Our hands and feet are not ours,
they are His, and by serving Himself with those hands and feet, He sports with
Himself. Such an action is an action without attachment. Only in this way can one
attain salvation from the bondage of Karma. "(SS-1)
Baba says, "Knowing oneself is the real knowledge; serving all with the ideation
of Na'ra'yan'a, the real action, and the vow to please Parama Purus'a the real
devotion." (A'nanda Va'nii #25)
Namaskar,
Hariish
Note: LIFE IN AMPS
In our organisation AMPS, the following types of ailments are going on.
Some Wts are openly bragging and telling each other:
(a) "Hey, do something to feel good"; or,
(b) "Hey, do something to please your higher authority"; or
"Hey, do something to please your grouip leader" etc; or,
(c) "Hey, do something to save your post and get a promotion."
This is what they say. And this is not a hidden idea either. Rather it
happens on a daily basis. In this way they brag and loudly expose their
feeling to one and all. Plus some margiis etc who give a few pennies
for relief projects talk all day long about their own greatness and great
generosity. These are the common ailments.
So by this one can easily understand that such persons are surrounded by
Cimmerian darkness. The fate of such Wts or margiis ends up in sheer frustration.
In contrast, good margiis follow Baba's teaching: Do with the ideation of
serving Parama Purusa.
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Margiis' Status
Baba says, "Most people spend their lives on this planet eating and
drinking. Sometimes they contract diseases, their stomachs become distended,
and they die. But there are certain exceptional people who say, 'No, we have
not come to eat, drink and make merry.' Those who lead licentious lives foolishly
get involved in brawls and fights, but the exceptional people say, 'No, we
don't want to live such a life, we have to lead an ideological life on the path of
"A'tmamoks'a'rtham' jagaddhita'ya ca."
"Those people who are society's exceptions are extraordinary people. They
alone will build human history. Others cannot and will not do it."
"These exceptional people are sometimes seen as lunatics by the naive public,
but the fact is that these exceptional people do something new and constructive
for society."
"You should also know that you are exceptions. You too will do something great,
will build up something historical." (9th January '79)
Note: The life of each and every good margii is looked upon as something
peculiar in the eyes of the common people. The reason is A-grade margiis
are not involved in the religious dogma or materialistic ways of common
people; plus all margiis are practicing yoga, kiirtan, sadhana, eating only
sentient food, and following progressive ideas. So margiis' thinking and living
and socializing are quite different from the common public. That is why the
common public thinks margiis are peculiar people. But sincere margiis are
not worried about this; rather they know that this is one merit. Such
margiis are great exceptions and they are also the vanguards of the entire
society. All sincere margiis are making the path which the common public will
tread in the very near future.
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