ART OF LISTENING

It is a unique art to listen correctly and it is worth developing. We can learn this art of listening by not preparing mental response while listening, not letting opposing vibrations arise in our mind, not letting any other thoughts about that subject arise in the mind at the time and do this with complete calmness, quiet mind and focused chitta. This helps us to understand the view point of the other person and get the benefit of the discussion if any.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan and karya
Edition 1; page 533.

SADHANA AND OPEN MINDEDNESS ( ઉદારતા )

Just as grace of God is a subtle thread binding humans with God, open mindedness is equally subtle thread binding us human beings.

Love is expressed in the form of open mindedness in our physical world. Person with open mind cannot be devoid of love. In this way love and open mindedness are inter dependent. If one wants to be one with love, it is essential to have heartfelt mental open mindedness and eagerness to bear everything from the loved ones. As his capacity to bear increases, sadhak gets more knowledgeable with clear vision and appreciates the need for the tolerance. This practice of open mindedness and tolerance creates new vigor and understanding in sadhak's subtle body. It also reduces stubbornness from sadhak at the same time. It drives out our narrow mindedness, selfishness and " I " ness from our mind, making our lives worth and joyous.

There needs to be cooperation and goodwill between people to have success in any field. This is not possible without heart felt open mindedness. There may be many difference of opinions, view points or personal nature between husband and wife. If one or both have this virtu of heartfelt open mindedness, they can have real harmony and can bring the heaven on this earth. We get unhappy because  of our desire that other people should follow us, accept our values, follow our thought process and respect our feelings. Eventually we get the bitter experience that we were running after a mirage. We should not expect this from the world and especially from our loved ones. We need to keep open mindedness for our own benefit.

 Generosity of the heart ( open heart ) means spirit of friendship towards all the souls. This is the way for sadhak to feel that the whole world is one big family. If sadhak has this mental openness and heartfelt generosity, he can turn all these streams of life forces and add it in his life, while continuing his journey towards God. This increase the speed of his spiritual development.

To honor others nature, speech, way of life, mental tendencies, feelings, physical tendencies, lives, works and their whole personality is in itself generosity of heart and mental open mindedness. This does not mean that you accept others imperfections while keeping an open mind. At the same time, submit to or defeated by the people who attack your field of action or come in the way of your spiritual progress is not the characteristic of open mindedness. You must resist and succeed, with self confidence, quietness and fight with enough firmness for that resistance. To ignore the evil is open mindedness towards it. At the same time hating the people that does or wishes evil thing for sadhak, clearly shows lack of the bhava of open mindedness. Bhava of open mindedness means letting go of the spirit of personal happiness. The bliss from open mindedness cannot be matched by attempts to accumulate things.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan and karya
Edition 1; pages 210 - 212.

CONDUCT OF SADHAK

Sadhak will not get anywhere without first confronting the mind. Innate nature needs to be changed and without confronting the mind, it is not possible to reverse the flow of the river of nature. As we continue this battle while establishing peace, equanimity and impartiality in us, prakruti ( nature ) fights back with renewed vigor. Since we have developed this living peace and equanimity, we will be able to understand not only our nature but also the nature of others. After this we will understand the subtlest move of the nature and prevent ourselves from getting sidetracked. It will be easier to understand the root of our nature if we continue to observe and analyze all our external and internal natural tendencies, with peace and equanimity. After understanding this we should use our determination and power of concentration to catch on the roots of our nature and climb above the natural tendencies. This is done with knowledge and discretion. When used in this manner we will be able to maintain equanimity while going against our natural tendencies. We will not succumb or give in to our natural tendencies if we decide to do so. We must have the power of focused will and determination.   We need living and constant mental understanding of this firm and focused determination illuminating our lives like the rays of sun. This understanding  should be helpful in our daily lives. All our lives then becomes sadhana itself and then only divinity can express itself in our lives.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan manthan
Edition 3; pages 85 - 86.

READING ---- WHY?

Reading without understanding is not the reading by any means. On the contrary it is like closing the door for understanding. We must understand what we read. We should appreciate inner significance, purpose, seriousness and responsibility of these readings. We would open the door of understanding only if we read with this intent and purpose. To understand the truth behind the readings, we have to be open ourselves. It does not help much, if reading is done without understanding the purpose behind it.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan manthan,
Edition 3; page 186.



My two cents ---

                     Pujya Shree Mota has written each and every word with definite purpose and intent in his literature. The purpose and intent can only be understood if we are open to these writings. To be open we must read, understand , think, contemplate, soak the contents in our being like a sponge and put it in action in our daily lives. Only then it is worth and useful.

Ashwin.