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of disrespect will set them off. When just one word sets you off,
what will you do when the whole load falls on you and you have
to deal with it? It takes just one word to tear you apart. Say if
you add 5 pounds of salt in 100 gallons of milk, the milk has the
capacity to absorb it; it will not curdle up. But here with just one
word, you fall apart!
Nirmaani: the ego of being pride-less
There are many ‘saints’ who walk around claiming to be
‘nirmaani’ (free from wanting maan i.e. free from wanting
respect and importance). This will not work in religion. Have
you ever seen a nirmaani person? A nirmaani person can be
considered nirahamkari, can he not?
Questioner: Yes, ego-free.
Dadashri: Be careful; do not ever say that. People, who
are nirmaani, have the ego of being nirmaani (free from
wanting maan). They have the ego of, ‘I am a nirmaani’. And
proud people (maani) have the ego of maan. The ego of a
proud man is better, but in which lifetime will a nirmaani get rid
of his ego of being nirmaani? The ego of not having pride is a
subtle ego, once you have it; it is very hard to get rid of. Such
a nirmaani will keep telling everyone, ‘I am nirmaani … I am
nirmaani.’ There is a subtle ego behind that. Gross ego is better
because even other people will tell you that you have so much
ego that you walk around with an inflated chest. Would people
say that or not? But in the other case, there is no one to tell him
so – no one to tell him off, so his ego will continue to grow day
by day. That is why I have to say this directly to such nirmaani
people, ‘understand this otherwise you will end up wandering
around. You will have to become ego-free (nirahamkari). Just
being nirmaani alone will not do.’ Do you understand what
nirmaani means?
When I give you Gnan, you become nirahamkari (ego-
free). It is a big ego to be a nirmaani. Alas! That lafru