== DON'T SUPPORT YOUR FRIEND IF... ==
Namaskar,
People naturally feel respect and gratitude for those who help them in a
time of need. They consider that person a great friend - one whom they
deeply revere and trust. Out of love and affection, they honor that
friendship by lending their support in all aspects of life. This is the
natural human psychology - this is the way most people conduct themselves.
However, we all have to consider how far this approach is really viable,
healthy, and beneficial.
Throughout history and today as well, there are cases which stand as
clear-cut examples of when to no longer support a friend. Even then, due
to their strong sentimental attachment, innocent people get led down the
wrong road due to their undying allegiance to certain friends. And in
result, they have have to face the repercussions.
We should all familiarize ourselves with this problem and know the way
out lest we suffer terrible consequences.
FAMOUS CASE FROM HISTORY
While, there is a distinct need to address this critical issue within
our Marga family - and that will be done in this letter - let's begin by
examining one of the most famous cases from the past.
Most are aware that during the Mahabharata era, the great warrior Karna
was well known for his undying support of the wicked Prince Duryodhana.
Here is how it came to pass.
Throughout his life, Karna had been humiliated, mocked and abused. And
in one public competition, he was disqualified and not allowed to
participate because of his so-called lowly caste. At that point,
Duryodhana stood up in front of all and preached the greatness of Karna
and Duryodhana even parceled out a portion of his kingdom to Karna.
From that day onwards, Karna gave Duryodhana his ever-lasting
friendship and support.
Baba says, "Throughout his life [Karna] was an out-and-out idealist. He
was the most trusted friend of the Kaoravas. He has some striking points
of similarity with Bhisma; for example, if someone did some service to
him, he always remained faithful to him. He followed a code of simple
morality." (Disc MHB)
Because of Karna's sentimental link and heart-felt feeling for
Duryodhana, he remained the most ardent and loyal supporter of
Duryodhana, irrespective of what ills and misdeeds Duryodhana did.
Bhisma, the grandfather was a bit better, as he at least warned
Duryodhana of his wrongdoing, though it has to be noted that in the end
Bhisma did lend his support. But Karna did not even utter a word of
warning to Duryodhana about his sinful and wicked ways.
Baba says, "As Bhisma, the grandfather, had accepted the food and drink
of the Kaoravas, he continued to support them. Of course he tried in his
own way to change the attitude of Duryodhana, but he didn’t exert
pressure on him. Karna did not even try to change Duryodhana’s attitude,
much less exert pressure on him." (Disc MHB)
In that way, Karna lived under the false notion to remain obedient and
loyal to Duryodhana up to the very last - regardless that Duryodhana was
blatantly going against the collective well-being of the people. Such
was the extent of Karna's simple morality.
From the day when Duryodhana stood up for Karna in public, Karna gave
his everything to Duryodhana even though Duryodhana was going against
the spirit of welfare and the greater interest of society. Indeed, even
the most devious acts by Duryodhana went without even a hint of
opposition from Karna. He supported Duryodhana throughout - all because
Duryodhana was his friend. All because Karna was guided by simple
morality, not spiritual morality.
Baba says, "Strict adherence to spiritual morality may lead to the
parting of friends." (Disc MHB)
Karna's duty was to warn Duryodhana of his wrongdoing and not
blindly remain in such a friendship. More about this solution
is written below.
Ultimately, this friendship bound in simple morality led to Karna's
untimely death in the pursuit of a dishonourable cause. We should never
fall prey to such circumstances. We must not become the 21st century
version of Karna. We must not sit idle or actively support friends when
they are in the wrong - no matter how much they may have helped us in
the past.
NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT
Unfortunately, the above incident is not a mere relic of the past. In
their naivite and respect, many inside and outside of AM fall into the
same category and meet a similar fate as Karna.
For instance, suppose a young man was drowning or being beaten up on the
street and someone came along and rescued him from his plight, then
naturally that man will hold that person in high regard for having saved
him. He will revere him as a great friend. It happens. And often times,
even if that great friend does something wrong such as cheating at work
or selling illegal drugs, that young man will not oppose his friend.
Rather he himself will get embroiled in those nasty affairs and even get
arrested one day. All because of his desire to be true to his friend.
And there are so many cases of this nature. Here is another case for our
review.
A man comes forward to help a poor family in need, and in response that
poor family will forever sing the praises of that man irregardless of
what tasteless and harmful acts he does. That man may cheat on his wife
or beat his children, but all the while that poor family will keep mum,
only remembering how that man came forward and helped them in their
moment of need. What they do not realise though is that by keeping mum,
they become party to his sins. Anyone familiar with Baba's teachings on
pratyavaya understands well that prakrti will not spare that poor family
for their inaction.
So under no circumstances should we support any friend who is acting
against the spirit of collective welfare.
Certainly in our day to day life - at school, at our job, in our
neighborhood or community,a and in our Marga - we have seen such cases,
where out of their undying friendship, naive people either get caught up
in misdeeds or fail to come forward and do the right thing.
So we should all be careful.
SEE IT HAPPENING IN AMPS
Tragically we also see such things happening in AMPS as well. Of course
prior to 1990 with Baba at the helm, everything came full circle and all
wrongs were righted.
Since 1990 that has not been the case - out of loyalty and friendship
all kinds of negative things are tolerated and supported.
Here's how it goes.
Margiis often feel great respect and gratitude to their acaryas or other
workers. They think, "This Dada initiated me", or "This Dada help me
marry off my daughter", or "This WT stood up for me in public", or "This
Dada gave me sadhana lessons" etc. There are any number of things that
might spark a margii to become totally sentimentally linked with one
Dada and consider him their true friend.
Later, even when this Dada does wrong and goes against the interest of
society by tainting Baba's books, or eliminating BP rights, or promoting
the dogma of Mahaprayan, then still that margii keeps quiet. Basking in
their good feeling for that Dada, ie, their friend, they mistakenly
think that "I must support Dadaji regardless. He is my friend and I
shall remain faithful."
This is the way it goes - various Wts and margiis are unwilling to
oppose certain Dadas for their wrongdoing because of their friendly
feeling for that Dada. But in so doing, that margii will one day get
directly caught up in groupist misdeeds or they will remain a passive
bystander. In either case, they are inviting grave consequences if not
their own destruction, as parama prakrti will hold them accountable.
Just as Karna paid the ultimate price for blindly following the ways of
simple morality, so will we. Thus no margii should become party to
misdeeds, directly or indirectly, due to their friendship or friendly
association with one Dada etc.
WHAT IS THE PROPER THING TO DO
Due to their sentimental feeling, people get confused and justify that,
"This is my friend and what can I do other than support them." Such is
the misguided manner of simple morality.
Baba guides us that we are to do something different when we see one of
our friends going against the collective interest and welfare of society.
At that point we have to be strong and say, "Dear friend, I have deep
respect for you - you have helped me a lot - but you must not do these
things. It is my duty to tell you that what you are doing is not good -
please, I request you to change your ways."
Karna failed to do like this and that led to his downfall.
But this is the way we are to address the problem. Often enough, those
who have helped and guided us are in positions of greater power and
respect, even then we have to come forward and clearly tell them they
are doing wrong. After all they helped us in the past and now it is our
dharmic duty to help them by steering them away from their nefarious acts.
For us to simply leave their company without trying to help them is an
injustice - one must never do like this. Always we have to fulfill our
dharma and try to guide them away from their wrongdoing.
It may be that our friend or benefactor will not pay heed to our words.
Even then we should not give up. With our heart-felt feeling we should
request them again to mend their ways.
If still they refuse, then we have to pursue one of two options.
At that point, (#1) we will either have to walk away from their company
or, (#2) if we are able/strong enough, we should directly oppose them.
Never though should we support them just because we deem them to be a
friend who has helped us in the past.
Baba says, "Spiritual morality that wins over simple morality, but
common people always commit mistakes on this point. It is never proper
to extend support to immoralists." (Disc MHB)
Thus, even if a Dada has helped us or, initiated us, or opened the local
jagrti, no matter how much sentimental feeling we have for that worker,
if a Wt gets involved in harming the collective by indulging in gross
behaviour, creating Fake Ananda Vaniis, or tainting the BP election
process, etc then we must no longer support that Dada - no matter how
much we may consider them to be our friend. As their friend, it is our
duty to guide them onto the proper path as far as possible. If really
they will not listen, at least we have put forth the proper effort and
escaped the consequences of prakrti.
Even then, due to their sentimental friendship and lack of viveka, a few
margiis get bound up in that Dada's actions. Either they support him
directly or they fail to tell him to refrain from such acts. And that is
when people get into serious trouble.
NO ESCAPE: WILL HAVE TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES
We must always remember that by directly or indirectly supporting any
wrong act, then we invariably get caught up in that negative karma.
There is no escape.
Baba says, "However good people may be, they commit some omissional
and/or commissional mistakes – some do it knowingly, some unknowingly,
but once they commit pa'pa, or sin, they cannot retract those mistakes,
they have to suffer, they cannot escape the consequences." (AV-23)
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace none of us should become like Karna and support
wrongdoing just because someone is our dear friend.
Nor should we move away from their company silently.
By Baba's grace we must have the courage and stamina to verbally guide
them away from their misdeed and bring them onto the right path. If the
guilty party cannot mend their ways then at least we tried.
The whole idea is that in no way, shape or form should we ever support
those going against the collective welfare. Hence we must not support or
remain silent with those Dadas who taint Baba's teachings, tear down
margii rights, ruin Baba's scripture, and other such sins. If we fail to
act and support such friends even in a small way, we too will face the
consequences.
By adhering to dharma, and not gluing ourselves to certain friends, we
are bound to be victorious, by His grace.
Baba says, "Whenever there is a war between dharma and adharma, you are
sure to be victorious. You are not alone – dharma is with you, the
benevolent intellect is with you, and I am also with you." (AV-7)
Namaskar,
Purusottama
Note: ANOTHER POSTING ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC
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Good Teaching
Baba says, "Those who wrongly worship Parama Purus'a in the form of
clay, iron, or other material substances, are ultimately transformed in
Prakrtiliina*. And those who run around externally in hopes of finding
Parama Purusa outside, they also be come Prakrtiliina." (15 May 1982,
Hindi Section)
Note: Those who are searching Baba in one or another holy land, they
should be especially careful about this above teaching.
*Prakrtiliina= This is one type of microvita which is under punishment
of reaping of reaping its own negative samskaras.
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