Fault Finding, Criticism

December 20, 2006

Just got back on board and found a discussion locked which had great criticisms. Copied this from another thread and thought it appropriate.

Godbrothers and Godsisters we need to look and work on ourselves and stop criticizing other groups who follow other Gurujis or successions!

_______

"Apart from that there are many more kinds of bad associations. Among them seeing faults in others is a very serious form of bad association. It is harmful in two ways. First, at the time you see another’s fault, your own pride naturally increases which, for a devotee, becomes the immediate cause of devotional downfall. Secondly, by thinking about the faults of others, slowly your own mind becomes filled with the similar faults you are reflecting upon. When the entire world, including yourself, is full of faults and imperfections, why should we keep thinking about the faults of others.

Only a knowledgeable person has the authority to call a foolish person a fool. Why does a foolish person call another person a fool, when the one who is making the accusation is also a fool. If a person says that fault finding has become his habit, alright, see faults, but not in others. Look only to your own faults which are no less than the faults of others. By looking to your own faults you will receive a great benefit. In the words of Tulsidas, (hindi verse) “Once a person becomes aware of his own faults, to some extent he is freed from them because he definitely tries to eliminate these faults.”

My personal opinion is that reflection on the faults of others is the sure proof of one’s own faults. Just see in the world, a father goes to a doctor’s office to get medicine for his sick son. If someone calls out to him on the way, he forgets about the social etiquette and says, “I’m busy right now. I will see you some other time.” With the aim of heading straight for the doctor he continues on. In the same way, a devotee should follow the path as taught to him by his Spiritual Master all the time so that he can be freed from his “mental diseases” and attain his ultimate aim. He shouldn’t have any idle time looking at the faults of others. Therefore, one should always carefully avoid the extremely bad habit of finding fault in others.

Another form of bad association is arguing or debating with faithless or unqualified people regarding your spiritual path or devotion. When the Saint himself, who is all-capable, is unable to Grace such a confused and faithless person with correct understanding, why would the devotee expect that he could do anything better? Even if a devotee is motivated by a genuine desire for the welfare of others, he still shouldn’t try to explain devotional matters to a faithless person, because it will have opposite results. In addition to this, a faithless person’s opposition will disturb the mind of the devotee.

According to the scriptures, it is a great transgression if one engages in arguments and debates regarding the path of bhakti.

(Hindi Verse-Vlmiki Ramayan)

Bharat, the brother of Ram, said, “If I had anything to do with Ram’s exile, may I be afflicted with the sin of arguing and debating regarding the path of bhakti.”

Therefore, we shouldn’t listen to unnecessary arguments and debates about spiritual matters nor should we get involved in them. If an unqualified soul does not understand a certain spiritual subject, you shouldn’t feel surprised or sorrowful, because you also didn’t understand it at one time. True understanding of the Divine subjects and turning oneself towards God is received only through the Grace of God and Saints…

Criticizing or insulting a Saint or a devotee is also a serious form of bad association. Most disciples consider that only their religious order is best, and they bear ill-will towards the followers of other paths and other Saints. This is a big mistake. This becomes a spiritual transgression which could not make one’s own Spiritual Master or worshipped form of God happy. All Saints and forms of God are one. If you gain some benefit in your devotion from another Saint, then you should definitely take advantage of that association, but it is necessary to be extremely careful, because if you start to have negative feelings towards a true Saint in this process, then the saying, “I saved a dime and lost a million,” will be proved true.

All of God’s names, virtues, leelas, abodes and Saints are one. To have negative feelings towards any of them is to have negative feelings towards all. All Saints and all descensions of God are inseparable. This Divine knowledge needs to be understood forever. Normally it is seen that devotees of Bhagwan Ram criticize devotees of Bhagvan Krishn, or Shaivites criticize Vaishnavas. This is a very serious spiritual transgression.

Depending on your faith and interest, establish your mind and intellect in a loving relationship with any descension of God or with any descension’s name, form, virtues, leelas, or His Saints. At the same time, consider other forms of God to be a form of the same God and do not think negatively about Them…"

Foregoing are excerpts from the “Kusang-Bad Association” chapter of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj’s book (English Version) Prem Ras Siddhant (first published in Hindi 1955).

Hari Bol