308
Aptavani-9
five hundred thousand gallons! The bigger the tank the longer it
takes to empty out, but it is emptying all the same. So what does
it matter for the one whose tank is emptying?
Questioner: But while it is emptying, it will sweep one
away like the floodwaters; it will topple someone and it will hurt
someone.
Dadashri: Yes, but all those are ‘his’ consequences; it is
a result. What do You have to do with that? However, you
should do pratikraman for it if someone gets hurt in the process.
Swamaan and ego with rich material
Questioner: What is the difference between maan
(pride) and swamaan (pride within limits)?
Dadashri: Maan means ‘ego with rich materials’ (materials
attached through ‘my’ or ‘mine’ with the ego) and swamaan is
confined to having pride over one’s own qualities; it is
associated with one’s own personal attributes, such as, ‘I am a
graduate’ – that is the extent of his pride. That is pride within
limits; that is swamaan. He asks to be recognized for what he
has achieved and nothing more. When that is violated he feels,
‘Why are they doing this when I am a graduate?’ so his
expectations are confined to him being a graduate. He considers
it important for him and so you should not violate that. You
should not violate someone’s swamaan (pride within limits).
And what is maan? In maan one is not concerned
whether he has a degree or any specific qualification. In fact,
forget about qualification; it is ‘ego with rich materials’. He
wears a long coat (fancy clothes), a three-thousand dollar
watch, gold frame glasses, that is maan!
Questioner: What is the difference between hurting
one’s ego ahamkar and hurting one’s swamaan?
Dadashri: A lot! The one whose swamaan is hurt will
bind vengeance (vair).