Aptavani-9
275
then he makes a firm inner resolution (niyanu) exclusively for
earning maan (respect). Such a person grows to be a big
maani (one perpetually hungry for respect and recognition).
From a very young age he makes a decision of, ‘now I want
to get ahead of everybody and be successful’. So he makes
this his main goal. He will say, ‘I will prove that I am better
than everybody and will go farther than everyone’, and he will
accomplish this too. Yes, he will do whatever it takes; give his
all for it and will progress further ahead. A person who has
been given a lot of maan growing up will not have this extra
drive.
Now if one receives lots of respect then his appetite for
it would be satisfied. If a person gets excessive, then his hunger
for it is fulfilled. He will then begin to dislike respect people give
him. Do you think people don’t give me enough respect? If you
too were to get such abundant respect, your appetite for it will
be finished, too.
‘Tasting’ respect releases one from having
greed for it
Do you like respect?
Questioner: Dada, up until today, I used to be intimidated
by the fear of being insulted or by losing respect. Because of this
fear I would not take part in any activities and I used to be
depressed. But now all that has gone away. As I got respect and
recognition (maan) I began to feel free.
Dadashri: No, that is lobh-granthi - a ‘tuber’ of greed
(lobh – greed. Granthi or gaanth - tuber). That is why when
one gets respect and the taste he gets out of it, will break his
tuber of greed. As he gets to taste respect, his tuber of greed
will begin to dissolve very fast.
Now if a person has a tuber of pride (maan), it will make
him run around for respect and recognition. Wherever he gets