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Aptavani-4
(samyak samjan) is to look for happiness even in the midst of
pain and misery.
Any suffering (dukh; unhappiness) that you do not fear,
you will not have to face. Neither a robber nor even God will
come to you.
The Lord says that if you want moksha, you should go to
a Gnani Purush, and if you want happiness in your worldly life
(sansar), then you should serve your parents and your guru. It
is possible to receive lasting happiness through caring for one’s
parents.
It is loksangnya (societal influence and association) to
believe that happiness is where other people believe that it is.
And to believe that happiness lies only in the Atma (the Self) is
considered Gnani’s sangnya (association with the Gnani).
A man prays to God every day, ‘Oh Lord! Make me
happy, make me happy.’ And another man, when he prays he
says, ‘Oh Lord! Let everyone in my family be happy.’ When he
says “my family,” that also includes him. The second man will be
the happier of the two, while the first man’s plea goes to waste.
You have the inner intent (bhaav) for the world’s salvation, and
therefore you are also included in that salvation.
Suffering (Dukh) Becomes Beneficial
Questioner: Kunta (mother of the five Pandavas in the
Mahabharata) asked for pain (dukh) and not for happiness, so
that she could be reminded of God. What is the significance of
this?
Dadashri: Say we keep the door to the home closed at
all times. No sooner do you close the door after one person
leaves, someone else knocks on the door. And when that person
leaves, and you close the door after him, a third person comes
knocking. This goes on the whole day. It would be worth