Hollow trees are so easily felled by winds
Question: Sir, my question is that how can one realize a thing to such an extent that he starts applying it in his life?
Answer: We had said that to realize something, two steps are needed:
- Attentive observation of the mind and the world.
- Faithful reading of wisdom literature.
Both these steps need to be carried out continuously and patiently for some time.
There have been rare people who refused to accept conditioning and suffering as their destiny. They put in everything they had to really understand what is going on. They said they cannot waste life in living without knowing.
They realized, and then in compassion, helped others realize.
Mankind is grateful that their words exist in a recorded form for us. Whatever precious that we have today, comes from them.
Upanishads, Ashtavakra, Kabir, Sufis, Buddha, Lao Tzu, and many others have left their precious words. To miss them is to miss life. No man can be called educated if he has not read them.
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Question: Sir, these days people do not have faith on god and on their inner strength. They go to saints, they visit different religious places and practise different rituals. They trust these things so much but not their inner strength. Why?
Answer: When one is hollow from within, then every small force on the outside becomes too big for us.
Hollow trees are so easily felled by winds.
Have you seen how people’s priorities are decided by external happenings?
Question: Yes Sir, I agree. But the trust of these people on these rituals and practises is very high. It cannot be easily shaken. Why is it so?
Answer: Superstitious and hollow people have no faith. They only have beliefs.
And beliefs we all have. To believe is to do something, to accept something, without understanding.
Some believe in Babas . We can laugh at them.
Some believe that their religion is the best.
Some believe in the structures made by society.
Some believe in money.
Some believe in career.
Some believe in degrees and passing exams.
Should we not laugh at all of them? Are all beliefs not equally stupid?
Question: Yes, Sir. It is my mistake to call it ‘faith’. It is only ‘belief’.
Answer:
Man 1 believes in ‘*babaji ka chamatkaar*‘.
Man 2 believes ‘a corporate career means a good life’.
Man 3 believes ‘I must act as per tradition’.
Man 4 believes ‘Science is the biggest truth’.
Are these 4 not equally stupid? Are they all not superstitious?
Question: But Sir, why should I convince others of their stupidity? Is convincing someone an important part of life? If yes, then what technique should I use?
Answer: Convincing, like any other of our actions, can happen because of two reasons:
- I try to convince the other to protect my own beliefs.
- I try to convince the other for his own good.
Question: In both cases it seems to be an important part of our life. Can there be a technique to convince others?
Answer: When 1 is happening, then no technique will work. One will be so occupied with self-protection that knowing the other and the other’s situation will become impossible.
When 2 is happening, then all techniques are applicable depending upon the situation. One will be comfortable and assured within, so he can pay attention to the other.
From this attention, the right technique will emerge.
-Based on my interaction on various e-forums.
Dated: 9th December,’14.
