Real Selflessness
Real Selflessness
A book distributor has to be well-versed with philosophy to answer all challenges. Satyananda Prabhu of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, Chowpatty India, narrates his experience with a challenger:
I was distributing books in suburban railways in a fairly crowded compartment announcing about the root cause of our problem, when suddenly a man sitting in between two others shouted loudly, "Just tell me in one line what is the root cause of our problem?" Six feet tall, wearing a white shirt and black trouser and goggles stuck on a bald head, he looked very angry. I immediately replied," It is bodily conception of life." "Nooo!" He screamed. "It is selfishness."
"Yes, it is the same thing," I offered. "Because we identify with the body we become selfish in our pursuits."
"Forget it boy," he chided me. "Why are you selling these books? Go and do something productive to the society. Get married, enjoy your youth, make by products and teach them this knowledge." (He could see from my appearance that I was a monk.)
"Everyone is doing the same thing," I replied, "but what is the result and what is the product? Is anyone free from selfishness just by doing these things?"
"Nature has given us abilities to enjoy then why not do so?" All eyes in the compartment were on me. "Animals are doing that too. What is big about getting married and producing offspring?"
"But we are rational," He told. "Then we are enjoying rationally like animals." I responded.
"Why are you going against nature? You must have sex." "Did great saints like Jesus and others went against the nature?" I asked him. "I don't know," he protested. "Then learn from these books. They teach us the real selfless way of life: by surrendering to the will of God."
"I know everything," he boasted. "What do you know about life? I'm 52. You are just coming out of an egg."
"Vriddhatvam na vayasa," I replied. "Knowledge is not dependent on age." He could not answer, but others in the train could understand the logic which I offered. Many called me asking for books. I came back to the same person and offered him "Laws of Nature". He took it, saw it and returned back the book. I felt at least he got some sukriti by touching the book and making others buy the books because of his protest.
Thanks
Your Servant
Murari Gupta Das
