When Someone Attacks Me....
Swami Muktananda: "It is important that we defend ourselves. If we always bear other people's violence, then, these people will always be violent. If a violent person hits you, and you hit him back, then, you are actually being non-violent, because you are stopping him from hitting many more people.
"A person should have great self-control and forbearance, but that does not mean that he should become so weak that if somebody attacks him, he says, 'Great'. When you have self-control, you conquer all your senses, and by conquering your senses, you gain great strength and energy.
"In your heart and in your actions, you should become humble. You should regard everyone as equal, for God dwells in everyone's heart....You should look upon everything --- plants, trees, religions, and other people --- with equal vision. But that does not mean that you should become feeble. You should be very strong and courageous, and you should also have discrimination.
"The scriptures speak at length about the behaviour that is appropriate at different times. There are scriptures in India that explain how to conduct oneself ethically while living in the world. For example, in the Mahabarata, there is this question: 'If a wicked person attacks me, how should I treat him, assuming I am a righteous person with an awareness of equality?' When you come into contact with someone, you should be able to see whether or not that person has the awareness of equality. You should understand whether he is a human being or an elephant in the form of a human being. Even among human beings, you find people who are like elephants, who are totally intoxicated with their pride. If they are true human beings, then, you can use your awareness of equality, and explain to them the right way to behave, but if they are not, this kind of person, you have to treat them differently.
"Our scriptures says, 'There are eight different kinds of human being. The eighth kind is a mere animal.' In what way? The eighth kind of person will beat people. He will steal someone else's possession. He will burn down buildings. He will shoot people for no good reason. Now, according to the scriptures, if you come across the eighth kind of person, and he tries to hit you, all that you can do is hit him back. Only then can you teach him a lesson. Such a person can learn only through blows. If you were to open the scriptures and try to give him the knowledge of the Truth, he wouldn't understand it. Therefore, the scriptures say that if you come across a person who is acting like an animal, then, you have to respond to him accordingly. Only then will he become a true human being.
"Of course, you should have the awareness of equality. You should have love for others. you should have humility. You should also have courage and strength. If an animal comes before you, then, you should know how to treat that animal. You should know how to make him become human. The true sign of equal awareness is courage."
Source: pgs. 124, 126, 127, 129 I have Become Alive by Swami Muktananda
"A person should have great self-control and forbearance, but that does not mean that he should become so weak that if somebody attacks him, he says, 'Great'. When you have self-control, you conquer all your senses, and by conquering your senses, you gain great strength and energy.
"The scriptures speak at length about the behaviour that is appropriate at different times. There are scriptures in India that explain how to conduct oneself ethically while living in the world. For example, in the Mahabarata, there is this question: 'If a wicked person attacks me, how should I treat him, assuming I am a righteous person with an awareness of equality?' When you come into contact with someone, you should be able to see whether or not that person has the awareness of equality. You should understand whether he is a human being or an elephant in the form of a human being. Even among human beings, you find people who are like elephants, who are totally intoxicated with their pride. If they are true human beings, then, you can use your awareness of equality, and explain to them the right way to behave, but if they are not, this kind of person, you have to treat them differently.
"Our scriptures says, 'There are eight different kinds of human being. The eighth kind is a mere animal.' In what way? The eighth kind of person will beat people. He will steal someone else's possession. He will burn down buildings. He will shoot people for no good reason. Now, according to the scriptures, if you come across the eighth kind of person, and he tries to hit you, all that you can do is hit him back. Only then can you teach him a lesson. Such a person can learn only through blows. If you were to open the scriptures and try to give him the knowledge of the Truth, he wouldn't understand it. Therefore, the scriptures say that if you come across a person who is acting like an animal, then, you have to respond to him accordingly. Only then will he become a true human being.
"Of course, you should have the awareness of equality. You should have love for others. you should have humility. You should also have courage and strength. If an animal comes before you, then, you should know how to treat that animal. You should know how to make him become human. The true sign of equal awareness is courage."
Source: pgs. 124, 126, 127, 129 I have Become Alive by Swami Muktananda
Comments
Post a Comment