11-17-2001 Club chat

[Guest guest]

Namaste all...<br><br>I want to thank all of the

members that manage to make it to the chat sessions each

week. It's nice to see that different people feel

comfortable enough to share their opinions with all of us.

Remember that the chat is for all of us! Please do stop by

when you can.<br><br>This week's chat topic was a

continuation of last week's topic: Mind: Nature; Helpful or

hinderance? This topic brought up a couple of other questions

that I would like to pose here for all to

ponder/question.<br><br>Firstly, what makes a decent person? Is it necessary for

a

seeker to be a decent person? What qualities does a

decent person have? Does intent alone make one decent or

indecent? How can we define these characteristics in

ourselves and grow past the boundries?<br><br>Secondly, how

can we draw the line between not wishing harm on

others and protecting ourselves? As SilentSoulji brought

up in the chat, if a lion is hungry, would it be

necessary that I sacrifice myself as food for him? What are

the differences, mentally, between self-protection

and love for all? Does anyone have any particular

methods of meditation or practice that promote

protection?<br><br>I look forward to your answers. <br><br>Again,

thank you all!<br><br>In Love,<br>Erica

[Guest guest]

>>what makes a decent person?<<<br>He

is a decent, rather a pure person, whose mano, vakku

and kayam (thought, word and deed)

coincide.<br><br>for eg. when our boss comes up with a lousy

suggestion, we think to ourselves, ' how stupid he/she is to

come up with such a lousy suggestion/ decision'. But

on the face we say, ' oh wow! what a wonderful

suggestion. you sure are great ! '. here the mano (thought)

and vakku(word) don't coincide.<br><br> >>Is it

necessary for a seeker to be a decent person?

<<<br>No, it's not necessary for a seeker to be a decent

person. What's important is sincerity, and perseverance.

Even if an impure persons starts doing sadhna, in the

process he becomes decent, and / or

pure.<br><br>>>Secondly, how can we draw the line between not wishing harm

on others and protecting

ourselves?<<<br>There's a beautiful story in panchatantra to explain

this.<br><br>In one village, there was a snake, and it bit anyone

who came near it. Hence, the boys of the village

couldn't play as the snake used to bite them when they

accidentally went near it while playing. The villagers had a

tough time. One day, a Sadhu ( saint/ hermit) sojourned

in the village before continuing his pilgrimage. The

villagers complained to the Sadhu about this snake. The

Sadhu then went to the snake and enquired. The Sadhu

then said, " What do you gain by biting these innocent

people. Don't you know that you are committing more and

more sins ? " He gave a lecture on what's good, and

bad, on karma etc. The snake's heart melted, and it

promised the Sadhu never again to bite another innocent

victim. <br><br>The snake became quiet, and never bit

anyone. The boys started playing freely. But as time

passed by, they realised that the snake wouldn't harm

them, so they had fun by throwing stones at it. No

matter how much the snake got hurt it never bit anyone.

Day by day it grew weaker. It's body was full of

injuries from the stones thrown by the boys.<br><br>A few

days later, the Sadhu returned to the village, to see

how the snake's doing. To his utter shock, he found

the snake, very thin, fragile and full of injuries.

When he enquired, the snake narrated what had

happened. To this the Sadhu replied, " I told you not to

bite innocent victims. But did I tell you not to hiss?

If the boys throw stones at you, frighten them away

by hissing. I told you not to harm others, but I

didn't tell you not to protect yourself ! "<br><br>I

hope this story explains on how to draw the line

between not wishing harm on others and protecting

ourselves. <br><br>Hari Aum !!!