Time and again, we as well as others are out and out, exhibiting varied and different faces and feelings.
It is only the result of Thandavamurthy dancing to the tunes of the dictations of the mind, that he was speaking politely as 'Boss' at one time, and then saying, 'Don't be dragging on; leave me alone' next time and again addressing Sridhar as before as 'Boss'.
'When the nature of the people changes, colour changes, quality also changes' – this truth can be understood by a person by the maturity of his character.
When others exhibit anger due to the tribulations of their feelings, we also show anger and hatred, it is only an indication that we have not yet got the maturity of character.
Only when we stamp it saying, 'These are the items to my liking' the ammunition is made ready for our mental aberrations.
To whatever extent things of our liking give us happiness, to the same extent the things we do not like will make us drown in sorrow.
A very nice statement of a Hasid explaining this:
The depth of the rising Is the height of sorrow!
For a person who has got mental maturity, 'applaud' will not make him 'enamored'; 'despise' will not make him 'lose heart'.
When Thandavamurthy showed extremes of anger, hatred and disgust, Sridhar was not bothered at all.
Remaining with the feeling of grace, unmoved by any thing at any time is the whole outcome of maturity of character.
It is my desire that each one of you should reach this state and taste the joy of life.
To attain such maturity, there is a beautiful statement of the Zen master Moorey Sen...
Become a dry leaf in the wind! Become a cork in the river!
What wonderful golden words!
A dry leaf will just sail along with the wind. Cork will float and sail along with the flow of water. But leaf will be a leaf; cork will remain a cork.
Both will not have any difficulty.
I call this state only as maturity.
Changing ourselves as a cork in the river of life is only maturity of character.
If we change..., the truth will be known that –
Like us, others also struggle due to the afflictions of feelings.
Like us, they also lose their self-control some times, not knowing what they do, they also pour out their anger on others.
Instead of anger, Grace will be born.
Instead of hatred,
Love will be born.
Disgust will change as joy.
When?
If only you permit your character to mature!
*******
A meaningful incident.
A family man went to Rishi Bharatha and said, 'I wish to become an ascetic.'
Rishi said, 'A lie. You are telling in a polished manner that you are not willing to face the world.'
Further, he said, 'The maximum qualification for being a family man is the minimum qualification to be an ascetic. Now tell me, do you wish to become an ascetic?'
It is not important, who you are.
Only maturity of character is important.
********
Meditation chisels. Chisel No.7.