Amma on Proper Attitude

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Amma on Proper Attitude ~ " Awaken Children " Vol 3, pages 43, 44

 

Let everything happen as destined by God. But we must do sadhana

(spiritual practice). It is useless and meaningless to blame destiny

for anything and everything that happens in our life. In a certain

way, that is nothing but foolishness. Act properly and sincerely, and

then if something goes wrong, consider it as fate. It is the fruit of

your own actions; so be at peace. But still you must work in the

present to make your future happy and blissful.

 

Children, speak less, and only when it is absolutely necessary. When

you do say a word, say it very carefully because a seeker or a devotee

should not utter meaning¬less things, even if only a single word.

 

Question: Mother, what is the right attitude to have?

 

Amma: If somebody gets angry, you should carefully try to prevent your

mind from getting disturbed or unsteady. Some people will say, " I have

not done anything wrong, and yet he scolded me. Therefore I got

angry. " You should consider it as, " Those scoldings might have been

meant for me, even if I did not do anything wrong. " Then you should

pray, " 0 Lord, whatever mistakes I may make, please remove them right

at that very moment. 0 Lord, please point out my errors. 0 Lord,

entrust me with Your work; please do not let me sit idle. O Lord, let

it be Your work so that I can do it, whatever it may be, remembering

You. 0 Lord, please let others point out my faults to bestow on me the

right understanding, and let me not hate them or get angry with them,

no matter whether they point out my faults in a harmful or a gentle

way. " This should be the prayer of a devotee or a true seeker.

 

We are trying to learn how to see God, or the Pure Essence, in

everything and everybody and not the demon in them, even in the

wicked. If you see the demon in others, the very same negative forces

will swallow you up and you yourself will become a demon in the end.

Children, that is not our way. Hate evil, not the evil doer. If

somebody is egotistic or selfish, hate egotism or selfishness, not the

person. We can do this if we really try. If the son is a drunkard or a

drug-addict, the parents will hate his drinking habit or his addiction

to drugs but they will still love their son. In fact, such children

are often especially loved by the parents. In the same way, try to

love others, even if they are bad. The right attitude is, right

understanding of a particular situation in life, using proper

discrimination, and then wisely putting it into application.