Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

Human Beings and Discrimination

 

Human body is " vivek-pradhaan " (prominence of discrimination). The

meaning of discrimination (vivek) is to properly know what is

essential and what is non-essential (saar and asaar), what is duty

and non-duty, and to apply that discrimination into one's life. Man

does not use his discriminative faculty. He does not respect or honor

it. He is therefore suffering. If he were to accept his discrimination

(vivek) and conduct his life accordingly, then he

will be greatly benefited and gratified! For awakening this

discriminative faculty (vivek), there are the Scriptures, the Saints,

Spiritual guides, mother-father etc. They are responsible for

awakening this discrimination within and they do it. There is an

important thing to know from this vivek, therefore pay great

attention to it.

 

From an ordinary viewpoint, money seems to be a big thing and it is;

because everything is bought with money. We buy a lot of things with

money and our work is carried out. Because of this, money seems to

be very important for sustaining life.

 

This life that we are living, we adore it a lot. Even a sorrow-

filled man, doesn't want to die early. So for sustaining our life -

food, water, clothes, etc., are used. Our life may be sustained, our

life-force (praan) remains intact, we remain healthy, we become

educated - for all this, things are essential. It is for those things

only, that money is required. It is not for the sake of money, that

things are needed. Yes, money can be generated from things; but things

are far superior to money, by which our life is sustained. Money can

be used in giving and taking food, clothes etc. So money is not

directly required for sustaining life, but things are required.

Therefore things are more valuable than money.

 

Even important than things are †" living species, humans, animals,

birds, trees. They are very useful. By nourishing (nurturing) them

we get things, which are required in our daily life. So those species,

by whom life is sustained, they are great. Things are there only for

those beings. Of all the beings, human beings are the best, because

all others beings are purified, by undergoing the fruits of their past

actions. But in human beings, there are two things - one is to reap

fruits of old sins-virtues and secondly, to work for redemption.

 

To enjoy favorable and unfavorable circumstances and to become happy-

sad is also in animals. Animals also make efforts according to their

intellect, to derive happiness and to get rid of sorrow. However,

animals and birds are not capable of clearly thinking, about what will

happen in the future - only human beings have this ability.

 

Human beings are " vivek-pradhaan " (have predominance of

discrimination). Therefore, where benefit lies and where harm lies

for me, what will lead to my progress and what will lead to my

downfall, what is to be taken and what is to be forbidden, what is

everlasting and what is transitory - only human is capable to know

all this, not an animal-bird. So even in humans, vivek

(discrimination) is invaluable. Those who conduct their lives

according to vivek, are great among human beings. Vivek is great, so

humans taking its support and conducting their lives according to

vivek, are also great.