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Discipline In Our Daily Life
We are all familiar with the idea that people think they are disciplined.
But somebody else finds they are not so disciplined. I have found that
people are by and large very sincere. And, even their apparent indiscipline
springs, not from the intention to be undisciplined, but because they
don't really understand what it is. I have found that when we meet in
Shahjahanpur, or in places like this, it generates a great deal of love
and a consequent discipline. But it seems to evaporate when the function
is over. It is because people do not realise that discipline is not
something of a momentary interest or a momentary need. It cannot be
said that discipline is necessary here but not on the street; or that
discipline is necessary in the Ashram but not at home; or that it is
only among abhyasis but not among the general public. It is an unfortunate
fact of our education - educational system I should say - that we are
taught that discipline is a need of the moment for certain situations
and not others. For instance, when our son goes to school we tell him,
"Don't misbehave in school," which can possibly give him the
implication that he need not be well behaved in the house.
So, discipline is a way of life. It has no specific
situational impact or need. Nor is it limited to the need
of a moment. It must be the governing factor of our 24 hour
daily existence; and what it really means is regulation.
Discipline does not mean enforced rules, obedience - all
that is nonsense you see. That is why most people rebel
against discipline. They think it leads to lack of freedom.
But what discipline really gives is an orderly life. Everything
should be done when it should be done. Because you will
appreciate that you cannot put out today's fire tomorrow,
or cure yesterday's illness next year. So the first thing
to be understood is that, each thing has to be done when
it must be done. See, Babuji used to be quite upset when
people would come late for meditation. He never gave public
expression to it. But after the meditation He would ask
me privately; "Can these people afford to go late for
a train, or do they go late for a cinema?" So, everything
in its time.
Second requirement is to lay down an order of priorities
of what should be done, when and where. That means, ascribing
to each activity its relative importance. What is the most
important thing I have to do? That should be done first.
The next important, the second and so on. But we find students
when they should be studying they are at the football ground.
And then, they are upset when they are told, "You should
not be playing now." And they will even quote, "A
healthy mind in a healthy body," all these things!
But people do not explain to them: "Yes, my dear son,
you need exercise, but this is the time for study."
Similarly meditation. If an abhyasi understands that the
spiritual life is the most important thing for him, then
he will give the greatest importance to Satsangh. But they
have not yet understood the importance of the spiritual
life; therefore they are willing to sacrifice sadhana for
a brief moment of pleasure or fun. So, when we have a list
of priorities - "What is most important, what is the
second most important," we have become accustomed to
dealing with our situations, life situations, in a relative
grade of importance. So, relative importance governs every
activity of our lives.
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