When a devotee is lying prostrate at the feet of a monk, paying obeisance to him, the latter ought to receive him with grace and not engage in conversation with someone else, apparently unconcerned about the one who is doing his devotions at his feet. And, yet, when the same monk is seen receiving a political personality or an industrialist of, so-to-say, social significance, he is at his concentrated best in doing personal reverences to the so-called esteemed one. This sort of double-standard in social behaviour, however well-meant, is disconcerting to the eye and antithetical to the spirit of sameness, so highly spoken of in the scriptures.
All, from the highest ranking dignitary to the citizen of meanest rank, ought to be given like treatment by the one who professes himself to be a monk. Unfortunately, this is palpably not the case with many an organisational monk and this sort of apparent disrespect or show of apparent unconcern for the, so-to-say, inconsequential devotee ought not to be even the occasional order of the day ever. That monks frequently do this is the experience of this writer and this is his lodged protest in defence of the lay citizens.
The best antidote to this will be for devotees to guard their own honour and not sell their self-respect by all the time chanting 'Maharaj', 'Maharaj', and laying their bodies at the blessed feet of these, otherwise, undoubtedly venerable ones. When the lay citizens learn to respect their own selves more, the monks who are culpable to this sort of negligent behaviour will also be forced to show similar respect to them. Ultimately it boils down to self-respect and this all should learn to cultivate even if, in the bargain, it amounts to not showing explicit reverence to an errant monk in terms prostrate.
Written by Sugata Bose
Photo : Bhakta Rasik, at the hallowed feet of the peerless Paramahamsa of Dakshineshwar who is, true to his reputed self, seen in this painting counting his mantras which he is chanting to invoke divine blessings on the pariah prostrate at his feet. Rasik, a sweeper, a devoted one, waited for long days before he could get to throw himself at the feet of Thakur and the merciful Lord raised him from the dust unto freedom. In his final hours Rasik was blessed with the vision of the Master as he passed into silence and transcended to the Ramakrishnalok.
No comments:
Post a Comment