Those who live in glass houses.....

[mk]

Namonamah,

It is often the case that right minded persons are shy of preaching what they themselves cannot/do not practice. It is a big loss. It is often that I feel strongly about something but circumstances make me act to the contrary. If I have under any circumstance given a five rupee bribe (maybe for getting a patient admitted in a hospital) I feel I have no right to talk about or campaign against corruption. The sense of guilt should increase in me the urge to fight. Instead, it turns me into a coward who is afraid of being pointed out for duplicity or double standards.

I am of the personal opinion that whatever be our actions, we should not be cowed down by them. The wrong act has been done, its fruits will come whenever and in whatever form, but it should not corrupt our thought, because that is an additional wrong act. Besides this gives a tool to the bad elements to reduce opposition strength, as many people having done one wrong just move away rather than opposing.

So, the mantra should be: "Preach, even if you can't practice". For example, I am preaching this mantra even though I do not have the courage or strength to practice it myself.

How does JV view it?

Thanks and regards.
Milind Khadilkar

[dr.nutanpol]

Namaskar MK and all,

 I got introduced to JV about 23 years back in 1986, but did not take part in Satguru kary till about three years back because I was feeling, I do not have any moral any right to speak about philosophy which I am not practicing in my life.

When I got introduced to JV philosophy within 2 months time Shri Satguru asked me to talk on my experience with JV. I felt it is very personal thing and I refused to comment on JV in public. (This was an act of arrogance on my part and I still feel sorry about it.) Shri Satguru felt very bad and in his pravachan he said with heavy heart, that those who are not ready to get trained now, on how to do Satguru kary I want to ask them. Are they waiting for me to leave the body? And there were tears in his eyes. I still remember that incidence and every time I remember it my heart is filled with sadness and agony.

  After this incident I was preparing my mind about taking part in Satguru kary. I was searching for an opportunity to take part in service. Now I had to struggle mentally to get chance and after almost 18 years, I got chance to take part in it. I got opportunity to work with Bal Sanskar Kendra.

After that, it took more than 2 years for me to get the permission to speak on JV. Senior Pravachankar Mrs. Vandana Tai Belhe , daughter of first disciple of Shri Satguru Shri Nana Mule took the permission for me.

  Here I remember the story of one priest who used to give sermons in church. When he was asked, ?Father do you think that your heart is as sparkling as your robe you wear? So you have moral right to give such sermons on why and how one should behave, in order to be united with God? He said, ?My heart is not as clean as the robe which I wear but I am convinced about the path which will make such sparkling heart by God?s grace and when I give sermons it is not only for you but also for myself. I have chosen this work so that it will keep reminding me about what I should be doing and how I should be thinking and behaving.?

   I am very much influenced by this priest and I also think likewise. If I want to improve and cleanse my mind totally then I should engage myself in such activities which will be beneficial for me as well as others. I wish to live to learn and when I am speaking or writing I am feeding good thoughts to others as well as myself.   
 
  May God bless all!

[omkar]

Hello Milind
Thanks for starting this topic

I am of the personal opinion that whatever be our actions, we should not be cowed down by them. The wrong act has been done, its fruits will come whenever and in whatever form, but it should not corrupt our thought, because that is an additional wrong act. Besides this gives a tool to the bad elements to reduce opposition strength, as many people having done one wrong just move away rather than opposing.

 1] I dint see any bad fruits coming from any act done through good motive [good mind ness]
 2 ] Also if without giving bribe u just cant do a good work/your work then you must do it  you should be in system    for changing the system [when we live we just break various laws unintentionaly/intentionatly]
 
 Thanks JVM Thanks all members Thank you

  Omkar
  [May everybody be blessed with akhand Sadgurukrupa & effortless Namsmran]

[omkar]

Thanks Nutan Pol for sharing  such a heart touching incident

Thanks JVM Thanks all members Thank you

  Omkar
[May everybody be blessed with akhand Sadgurukrupa & effortless Namsmran]

[Gargi Pandit]

Dear Milindji,

Do you really think 'Preach even if you can't/don't practice??'
(I do agree that we all make mistakes. But if you do it once its a mistake , if you do it twice then it isn't!)
Aren't leaders are supposed to be leading by example?
And is it not the statement we use 'Do as I say and not as I Do' to taunt someone?
And how do you think that your preaching is going to help anyone when people know about your own contradictory behaviour and don't respect you.
People preaching without practising often get ridiculed and ignored.
And those who do that do not have courage to tell that 'See, I don't do these all 'ideal' things but yeah, it will help you for sure'.
(Except my doctor friend who drinks and smokes and tells us not to do it coz it is 'injurious' to health!!)
All dharmas, panthas, vedas teach Adhi kele mug Sangitale..
And I can't say about others but I wont listen to a word out of these kind of 'preachers'
( I think so far the posts have I have put, you could have guessed it anyway! )

Prayers,
Gargi

[omkar]

Hello Milind

do you really want any body to follow you......?

Omkar

Thanks JVM Thanks all members Thank you

  Omkar
  [May everybody be blessed with akhand Sadgurukrupa & effortless Namsmran]

[mk]

Namonamah,
No, Omkarjee, I do not want anyone to follow me. I would not want even myself to follow me.

More importantly, I do not want my thoughts to emulate my actions.

Most importantly, I do not want my conscience to emulate my actions.

Irrespective of whatever way  I do act, I want my actions to be always influenced by my thoughts. If I act wrongly, it must be after overcoming my thoughts, defeating my thoughts and against my thought.
Irrespective of what I think, I want my thoughts to be always influenced by my conscience. If I think wrongly, it must hurt my conscience.

A (probably) Chinese philosopher, again probably Confucious, has been attributed with "conscience is like a triangular piece of metal inside our flesh.  Every time we act wrongly it turns and hurts us as a sharp warning about what we are doing.  However with overuse those sharp points get blunt and we stop even noticing them." (wording from memory, e&oe). As of now, I still feel those sharp points turning.
Of course, there is a big debate among the intellectuals on whether the conscience itself can be trusted!!

So long!!

Best wishes
Milind Khadilkar

[mk]

Namonamah,
Thanks, Gargijee_Pandit

Please find my response inline, in brown.

Do you really think 'Preach even if you can't/don't practice??' Yes. Yes
(I do agree that we all make mistakes. But if you do it once its a mistake , if you do it twice then it isn't!) Our wrong actions need not all be mistakes. Paying a bribe is a wrong action. That it was taken to ensure the treatment of an injured person does not change that. But it is not tantamount to a mistake. Not paying the bribe and letting the injured person suffer would have been a wrong action AND a mistake (according to me). What would I have done? I do not have the guts to overcome my thoughts. I don't know what action I would myself take, but I have no doubt about what action ought to be taken. Especially if I am the injured person.
Aren't leaders are supposed to be leading by example? बोले तैसा चाले is fine, but it is not just applicable to the saint. Even the drunkard does that. तो बोलतो ही अडखळत आणी चालतो ही अडखळत! (From Ranade's compilation Bahurangi Karmanook). But aren't our leaders likely to be humans who suffer from human frailties and compulsions? I would prefer leaders who acknowledge this, are consciencely ashamed of it than those who either (a) conceal it or (b) are arrogant about it or glorify it. Won't we be gracious enough to grant them their frailties and their sins, atleast to the extent we take the liberties ourselves?
And is it not the statement we use 'Do as I say and not as I Do' to taunt someone? We should say it in all earnest!! But with humility, without arrogance.
And how do you think that your preaching is going to help anyone when people know about your own contradictory behaviour and don't respect you. It will help me. And if I am truely open and humble about it, it may help others too. But mass psychology is not my domain.
People preaching without practising often get ridiculed and ignored. Shankar mhanato tathaastu.
And those who do that do not have courage to tell that 'See, I don't do these all 'ideal' things but yeah, it will help you for sure'. I hope I eventually imbibe such courage. The other question is, do I deserve it? I am very likely to use this courage and create an excuse for wrong actions. I am fairly weak-willed in this respect.
(Except my doctor friend who drinks and smokes and tells us not to do it coz it is 'injurious' to health!!)
All dharmas, panthas, vedas teach Adhi kele mug Sangitale.. I think this is in a different context, it is an admonition against bragging. But dragging it into this context, a retired surgeon might no longer have a steady hand anymore, but his advise about a steady hand would still be valuable. Recently a leading cricketer of the day was seen benefiting from the advice of a retired player like Suniil Gavaskar. That is because tyaannee... Adhi kele mug Sangitale!
And I can't say about others but I wont listen to a word out of these kind of 'preachers' Ah! The loss is likely to be yours!
( I think so far the posts have I have put, you could have guessed it anyway! Grin) But I don't judge people (or their future posts) from their posts!

Thanks and regards
Milind Khadilkar

[Deepak_jvm]

Dear Milindjee,
Namaste!

I think nobody will be bothering about your past if you are making conscious effort to do what you say.
'Preach even if you can't/don't practice' is possible. Otherwise we may need to close down most of the schools/universities. Most of the consultants will be jobless!!!

Best professional may not always be the best teacher. Though we haven't heard about Mr Ramakant Acharekar as being a top cricketer, he coached the best cricketer - Sachin Tendulkar! Yoga originated in India, but chinese, Russians or western people due to their flexible body can do or practice it much better than Indian in general. Thus you can continue preaching or teaching its technique, and they can practice it....

May God Bless all,
Deepak Mahadeshwar