364
Aptavani-4
Dadashri: Overt silence (sthool maun) will really upset
the overt ego (sthool ahamkar). Words have created all the
world’s entanglements. And through silence, power (shakti) can
grow immensely. Overt speech can hurt others; it can hurt like
a rock. Can you imagine how much you accomplish on the day
you observe silence? Maun brings saiyam (control over kashay
– anger, pride, deceit, greed). Even overt maun brings about
saiyam. That is considered silence of the ego. And if the
awareness, ‘I am Shuddhatma’ is present, then it is considered
the silence of the pure Soul.
Questioner: Then how should maun be?
Dadashri: Maun is where there is no nokashay
(neutral kashay): no laughter, grief, fear, disgust, or anything
else. There is no subtle inner speech either. During times of
maun, you obviously would not speak, but writing is speech
as well. So even writing does not constitute maun. Maun
(silence) puts an end to all the agitation. When there is an
absence of written or suggestive communication, it is called
true silence.
Questioner: If we feel angry inside, but we are silent on
the outside, what can we do?
Dadashri: That is why I say, that no matter what you say
and how crazily you behave, ultimately you should stick to the
Lord’s side (with the intention not to hurt at all). All this may
have transpired when you were on the side of evil, but you
should keep your mind on the Lord’s side. If you give way to
evil, you will be doomed.
Questioner: Isn’t it the mind that is at work in all these
matters?
Dadashri: It is because of the mind that this worldly life
(sansar) has come about. With one mind the worldly life
(sansar) sets, and with other mind it arises.