Reminiscences

A Sadhaka once said, to ShriMaharaj, We approach you for advice in case of difficulty. Sometimes, however, the matter is pressing, and there isn't time to consult you. What should we do in such a case ?"

ShriMaharaj replied, " In practice we often tender cor­rect guidance to a friend or relative. It is often correct because our view of the situation is objective, impartial. There was a young man who entered business, and was prospering therein. However, a ship which was bringing his merchandise was seized by the enemy's navy, and so he suffered a crushing loss, and became very despondent about the financial loss he was unprepared for. He had an elderly uncle, also in business, in another town. When the uncle came to learn of the young nephew's plight, he wrote to pep up the young man. The letter had a salutary effect, the young man gathered courage, and, eventually, he became a successful businessman.

"A number of years passed, and by coincidence, the elderly merchant suffered a great loss, involving both money and reputation which had been built up over the years. Aged, and therefore seeking security, he was com­pletely floored, and thoughts of suicide entered his mind. He despondently turned over the papers in his records. He chanced to come across the copy of the letter he had written to the nephew. Idly he read it again and found himself pondering over it. It struck him that the advice he had given to his nephew years ago equally applied to himself 

now. So he took courage, and eventually he regained his 

former status."

After narrating this, ShriMaharaj added, ' If one learns to look at oneself objectively, there will be a proper assess­ment of any situation, and the correct solution will suggest itself,'