a new topic for discussion (ignore me if you're not interested)

[Guest guest]

Dear Datta Devotees,

 

I would like to highlight today an important topic

that I think would make for great discussion material.

 

The Scenario:

Supposing someone has done a wrong, and somehow or

other gossip and talk spreads about the person's

wrongdoing. Now suppose further that because of the

person's ill-fame people begin to shun this person; is

this correct? For example, what should a swamiji's

devotee's response be in dealing with such a person?

Should the devotee judge the person and behave

badly/superior/mean towards the person who has done or

not done the wrong? (let's assume that it is not

relevant whether you "know" or "don't know" if the

person has actually done anything wrong).

 

My perspective on this, based on what I have

read/understood:

If I recall correctly, ghandiji once said "We are all

such sinners, we should leave punishment to God." I

have taken this to mean that a true devotee will treat

 

all people alike and be a friend to everyone,

regardless of their 'right-doings' or 'wrong-doings'.

Only sages such as Swamiji have the foresight/wisdom

to know how to properly correct mistakes of others --

we clearly only magnify defects in others, and in

ourselves through our righteous

behavior/judgement/mean-minded-ness. Such judgements

should be left to the person's own karma (we all have

enough of that), and we should not further

injure/speak ill of such people by our words or

through our behavior towards them. Therefore, one

might say we should be righteous regarding our own

behavior (i.e., we should uphold to the principles of

righteousness when called upon to do something), but

we should maintain child-like innocence in the face of

another's faults (we should pretend we don't know what

they did wrong, and leave judgement to the law and to

god). Otherwise, can we say we are truly devotees?

This implies that we should treat all people with

respect, and should be forgiving of others faults (are

we blameless ourselves?). Recently, I was reading a

book by swamiji "Katha Saagar" (a very good book!!!)

with the basic message that it is easy for us to

criticize others, and indeed it is hard for us to see

our own faults -- a defect of the ego. A very

interesting example of sage parashurama, sage kasyapa,

and mother earth (goddess of the earth) is given in

the story "Who is the Egoist?". The story shows how

because of our inherent belief in our own

'righteousness' we refuse to keep an open mind and to

acknowledge when we are wrong and another is right.

I'm fairly sure I have committed such mistakes in my

own dealings with people, but surely, after

recognizing these things, it occurred to me that I

should also watch out that I may be doing the same!!

 

As I was reading the book, these new topics came to

mind so I thought i'd share this anecdotal story and

thought-provoking excercise with the rest of the datta

family out there. I'd love to hear everyone's

discussion on this highly important topic of devotee

behavior.

 

jai guru datta,

pradyumna

 

=====

"Man should work with yogic renunciation and doubtlessness. Actions do not bind

him who is poised in the self." -- SGS

 

"oh lord! thou art everything! infinite in power and infinite in prowess, thou

pervadest all" (Bhagavadgita 11.40).

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Jai Guru Datta

Dear Pradyumna,

Given the context of your question,

1)I wonder what Lord Rama's response should have been

to Ravana after he took mother Sita to Lanka.

2)If you are a judge sitting in a court deciding on a

case, should you punish the guilty?

3)Why did Lord Krishna ask Arjuna to fight his near

and dear?

>From what I understand, God's message is for you to

understand what is adharma and if called upon to act,

act decisively, as appropriate.

As for shunning, did we not hear 'Shun evil company'.

Because it may influence you sooner or later. If you

have the capacity to reform others, well it is worth

doing.

As for judging others, it is not necessary to judge

others unnecessarily. But if you have to deal with a

person and the matter is important, ofcourse you have

to consider what kind of person he is. For this, we

need to use viveka, which is God given, I believe.

Regards

Rao

Sri Guru Datta

 

 

 

 

 

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