Aptavani-9
321
there is the principle of vyavasthit. People bring them food and
drink even if they call them names and curse them. The
ascetics survive this way. It is the principle of vyavasthit so it
will not fail to provide them with food and drink. People also
comment, ‘the man is crazy but what great renunciation! Let’s
take him some food.’ They will bring him food even if he
curses them. Now when one says, ‘I do not want anything,’
that too is considered a spruha (inclination). That too is an ego
of ‘not wanting anything’. Have you ever seen such nispruhi
men? I have.
One such nispruhi had come to me. He showed me his
padlock. He had made a hole through his penis and put a lock
through it. He removed his clothes and told me, ‘Look!’ You
fool! Why do you have to put a lock on a sense organ? What
crime did the organ commit that you are putting a lock on it? I
did not have Gnan in those days, so I was strong and biased and
one-sided. I asked him, ‘Why are you here? Why are you doing
this? Why are you showing me this?’ So he tells me, ‘I have put
on a lock, can’t you see it?’ I told him, ‘I do see it. Why did
you put it only in one place? Why not put it over here too?’ He
retorted, ‘Why do you talk to me like this?’ I asked him, ‘so
what do you want from me?’ He says, ‘Give me five rupees
right now.’ I told him, ‘I do not have any rupees if you threaten
me, but I do have money if you were to ask me for it. I have
all the money that you ask for but I do not have any money for
your threats. My guru has told me to give to anyone who
requests it but not to anyone who demands it from me.’ So he
became belligerent, ‘I am going to do this to you! I am going to
take care of you!’ I told him, ‘You are a big man. You can do
whatever you choose. I have nothing so what am I capable of
doing? And the money I have is for those who ask with
humility’ He then said, ‘Is there nothing for me?’ So I told him,
‘Take one rupee.’ He did not say anything right away and as
he started to walk out of the gate I invited him back and