Aptavani-9
431
Questioner: Or is it called the ego?
Dadashri: How can you say it is the ego? It is all done
to hide things about one’s self. The one who does not have
anything to hide does not care about what the world says about
him. Do you think such a person goes around asking, ‘what
were they saying about me?’ Say whatever you have to say
about ‘us’, say it in ‘our’ presence. ‘We’ would worry only if
‘we’ had something to hide, would ‘we’ not?
Why not say it in ‘our’ presence? Therefore ‘we’ do not
inquire to see what people might be saying behind ‘our’ back.
People can create whatever types of ‘echoes’ they want to (say
whatever they want to). The poor man is saying so from his own
understanding. Does he understand all this? All he knows is how
to eat, and even then he makes a mess while eating!
Questioner: Indeed, when you explain with such clarity,
that this is a huge stumbling block, then we understand.
Dadashri: You should make yourself (your relative self)
such that nothing anyone says behind your back, no matter how
hurtful, will affect you even in the slightest from within.
Arey! Are you aware that people even eavesdrop on
conversations too! What kind of worthless people are these? If
others talk about you, you must be at fault somewhere, would
you not? If someone is talking about you, it is because there may
be some fault in you, is that not so? Otherwise, who is there to
blame you? And how unworthy of you to listen in on that which
is not meant for your ears! If someone were to see you
eavesdropping, how terrible would that person feel? It is a
terrible fault.
Let the whole world talk if they want to. Many people tell
me, ‘Dada, this is what they were saying about you.’ I tell them,
‘That is fine. They are saying good things.’ Then they tell me,
‘They are also printing it in the newspapers.’ I tell them, ‘So