Seeker : Bhagavan, should we do away with the mind completely?
Sri Bhagavan: No, you would not be able to survive without the mind because the mind is necessary. But instead of being functional only when necessary it seems to be operational all the time. Suppose you are going out in the snow, you might have to wear some shoes. But if you are going to wear them in the bedroom, in the dining hall, they certainly would be a matter of great discomfort. The mind does have its place. However, it seems to be all over, all the time and hence a nuisance.
Seeker: Bhagavan, I am plagued by jealous thoughts constantly. Though I try to be non jealous, I am not able to be. How can I become free from jealousy?
Sri Bhagavan: Suppose there is a dog and, let us call that dog - jealousy. You want to change the dog jealousy to non-jealousy. You behind and the dog in front, you keep chasing the dog trying to catch hold of it and transform it. Then all of a sudden something strange happens. You disappear and the dog alone remains. The chase comes to an end. There is no 'you' to become free from jealousy. What exists is jealousy. That is freedom. Here we do not speak about freedom from this, or freedom from that. We only speak of freedom.
Seeker : Bhagavan, would practising contentment or being satisfied with what we have reduce one's efficiency in the world? Is motivation to become popular or famous in the external world wrong?
Sri Bhagavan: To me nothing is wrong as long as it comes naturally to you. I believe in two kinds of dharma. One is the dharma of the mind and the other, the dharma of the heart.If your heart has not flowered, it means you are functioning within the framework of the mind. When you are leading a life within the framework of the mind, you must be true to it. The mind revolves around the self and the self needs expression. The self would love to have money, name and fame. These come very naturally to the self. The self might even make sacrifices - I don't want money, I don't want name, I don't want fame. That also is only self-expression because you want people to love you and to recognize your greatness. You gave up everything and you feel very nice about it. Whether you feel nice about giving up money or by having money or whether you feel nice by giving up name and fame or by having them, it is up to you, but it is the same thing. Whether you give up or go after it, it is the expression of the self. So, as long as you are functioning within the mind, seeking for name, fame is very natural. Be true to that.Then there are those in whom the heart has flowered. These people naturally have no attachments to things. Not that they practise it. It is natural to them because their heart has flowered. Contentment and satisfaction is their true state. Not that they are less efficient or less motivated. Only that they do it for a greater cause and not for fulfilling their self.
An elderly person: Of late I have been very insecure about my future. I am worried what would happen if my health failed me.
Amma: Was there a time in your life when you had no fear? Ever since you became conscious of the world around you as a child, there has been some kind of fear. Once you were insecure with regard to your children's future, some other time it was fear of higher authorities or fear of disrepute. All the time there has been some reason or the other to be scared. You have assumed that your fear is because of your life situations. The truth remains that fear does not lie in any situation. There is fear within, which keeps surfacing in various guises. To see this is wisdom.
Seeker: I am hounded by too many negative thoughts. I am not able to stop them through the best of efforts. What should I do to stay clear? Will these thoughts block my enlightenment?
Amma: Is it possible to classify any thought as being particularly negative? What exists is fear. Lust, jealousy and hatred are all interconnected and have their roots in fear. Humanity is ridden with fear, which is flowing through you. What could you do about it? Is there a door to shut out these thoughts? They come and go. Fighting these thoughts and digging into them would land you in depression. Get going with your work and help your fellow humans. All things will fall in place. No matter what your thoughts are, when the time comes, I will liberate you.
No comments:
Post a Comment