(Continued from Issue 228)
Since Issue 227,
we have been looking at some measures to reduce ego according to
Psychology. In this Issue we will look at some more psychological
measures to reduce ego.
5. Having no expectation of praise: Once Dr. Gadkari, a
disciple of H.
H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj, was admitted to the hospital. A seeker
who went to visit Dr. Gadkari, took some change (25 one-rupee coins),
so that Mrs. Gadkari, who was looking after Dr. Gadkari in the
hospital, could easily make calls from the public telephone booth
nearby. Upon reaching the hospital, the seeker handed over the
coins to another seeker, Dr. Khare. Later Dr. Khare gave the coins
to Mrs. Gadkari, but forgot to mention which seeker had brought
the coins for her. When Mrs. Gadkari praised Dr. Khare for his
thoughtfulness, that seeker momentarily felt upset that someone
else got the credit for his actions.
Having an expectation of praise is itself an indicator of ego.
If one always harbors the spiritual emotion (bhav) that everything
occurs as per the Guru’s or God’s wish or law then
the desire for praise does not develop. Also, when someone praises
one, if one can learn something about spiritual
practice through
it, then the praise does not generate ego. The attitude of a seeker
in this regard is given in the examples below.
| A. |
‘When
my satseva in the Subtle
department of the Sanatan
organization started occurring properly, H.
H. Dr. Jayant Athavale would
praise me. This would certainly make me happy at that moment,
but immediately I would warn myself that I am treading on dangerous
ground. I would then immediately analyze the exact point, which
was praised, and would begin to contemplate on how to teach
it to others. Hence, I was able to view the praise neutrally. |
| B. |
I am constantly aware
that the satseva I perform is beyond my potential. The fact
that I am able to perform is itself indicative of the Guru’s
immense power active behind that satseva. However, H. H. Dr.
Jayant Athavale always makes it seem as if, “Mangala
has done this!” From this I realized the need to develop
The Lord’s quality of ‘doing everything, but never
taking credit for it’. So, I started praising others’ efforts
and encouraging them. |
|
