68
Aptavani-4
(5)
Opinion
The Blindness of Opinion
If a poker player came here, you may have an opinion
about him that, ‘here is a poker player sitting’, which will make
you feel uneasy. While others will not have a problem with it.
Why is that?
Questioner: It is because others are not aware that he is
a poker player.
Dadashri: Others know of that, but they do not form an
opinion (abhipraya) about him; whereas you do, which is why
it bothers you. You should let go of those opinions. You are the
one who formed this opinion; therefore, it is your own fault, and
that is why it bothers you. The other person does not tell you
to form opinions about him. If it bothers you, then it is indeed
the result of your own fault.
Questioner: Is it considered prejudice (purvagraha) to
form an opinion about something without knowing the facts?
Dadashri: No, it is not like that. This man is always
donating money, and to believe that he will donate money today
as well, is ‘prejudice’. If a man comes to upset you every day,
but today he has come to invite you for dinner; the very moment
you see him, you will think to yourself that he has come to upset
you, that is ‘prejudice’.
This worldly life (sansar) is founded on prejudice. Let go
of the prior judgments, as they will keep changing. Even if a thief