212 :: Abstract Thinking
reach its goal-i t will become non-mind. We have set out to
discover the truth. We must go on and on with our search.
We have to find out many truths.
Positive Thinking
A devotee said-" O Lord! People do not care for their
benefactors, whereas you are considerate even to those who
do evil to you. It is but natural to be kind to a well-wisher
but the !ove you bestow on an evil-doer, people are not able
to show even towards their benefactors. That is your
uniqueness!"
Sangam inflicted upon the Lord a great deal of suffering.
An average person curses his tormentor, saying, "How mean
and wicked is this man! Causing me endless suffering!" But
Lord Mahavira though t-"Thro ugh me the world is moving
towards salvation. But this rnan is drowni ng because of me!"
He pitied him.
It was Karl Marx who first propou nded the doctrine of
Communism. He was a sociologist and an economist. To
expound his thesis, he kept wandering. People exiled him,
turned him out of his house. lt happen s like that. People who
have given a new truth to the world, have had to bear insult,
sometimes even to drink poison, at the hands of their own
devotees.
Socrates was a great monk anda philosopher. Even today
he is considered by the West to be a metaphysican of the first
order 1-lis enunciation of truth went against the contemporary
traditional concept. That is why he was obliged to drink
poison. Jesus was nailed to the cross because he uttered truth
contrary to the current beliefs of the time. Bhikshu Swami,
too, had to endure a great deal.
This is how a forbearing person thinks- -if pelted with
abuse, he says to himself, "Well, 1 have been called names,
but at least not beaten." Even if thrashed, he says to hirnself,
"Well, I haven't been killed. I am still alive. I have only been
given a beating."
This is what we witnessed is Dewas. The discourse had
just begun. There was a sudden uproar. The miscreants
224 :: Abstract Thinking
support, anct moves steacttasuy m one ctuect1on, 1t woulct
Anupreksha :: 223
numbered only a few-5-10 persons, but lhe tumult raised
by lhem distracted lhe gathering. Acharya Sri was requested
to wilhdraw, because of lhe possibility of stone-lhrowing. And
indeed, stone-throwing began presently. One of lhe stones,
aimed at Acharya Sri's head, struck lúm on lhe back. Acharya
Sri said, "It hardly matters. We have had to endure so little.
Not a scratch anywhere. It could have been a bullet!"
Even when faced with lhe prospect of losing his life, a
religious person or sadhak says to himself, "Well, only life
is lost, but not righteousness." A patient man accepts ali that
happens to him wilh grace. This positive approach is found
in sadhaks and metaphysicians, who have realized lhe
supreme truth.
Anupreksha :: 225
able to meet lhe emergency. Later, lhe loan was duly retumed.
Now-a-days, what to speak of one hair from lhe moustache,
even if lhe whole moustache is pledged, lhere is lhe possibility
of lhe pledge not being redeemed.
Toe first and foremost mark of aulhenticity is-the
integrity of one's word.
Toe second mark is--integrity in money matters. There had
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