Deivathin Kural Series - 62

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 62 of 08 Sept 2006.

1.These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'. When he adds any personal observations he uses the phrase, 'KTSV adds'.
2. To-days chapter is from his lecture, titled, 'Kurramum Gunamum ', ie., 'Errors and Character', in pages 328 to 330, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural. Unless specifically mentioned, he or man includes, she or woman.
3. If You have to live as per the dictates of Dharma, You have to lead a disciplined life. It is very important to tell the people the rules and regulations. But obeying is to be done voluntarily. The best discipline is self imposed. There is no pleasure or pride in enforcing discipline. Enforced discipline cannot become tradition. All the traditional dharmas are such, that people have adopted them willingly and are not written down like the acts of law. There is a saying on this. "Sahasram vada; ekam ma likha." Tell by word of mouth, thousands of things, but do not commit to writing even one word. But now-a-days, there are many written do's and dont's, everywhere. Even here in the Matam, instructions such as, 'silence', 'remove your shirts', and so on, are witten and displayed in a number of places. "This may not be done please."
4. When I talk to you like this, find faults with you and give you many do's and dont's; I am breaking some of the rules of dharma, myself. When I said, 'this may not be done please', I have given an order. It is a mistake. I should have said, 'It is not correct to give orders. Is it not so? Please think yourself, and apply the necessary corrections.' That would have been better.
5. 'Whatever mistake may be there in a person, do not elaborate and dwell on it. But even if he has some good qualities, celebrate it.' This is the advice by elders. I am myself publicizing your mistakes, errors, and failures. We should not be dwelling on others failures, but publicize the good qualities. Look at Lord Siva! Even a crescent of the moon, he wears on his head, giving much importance to its capacity to spread some mild cool light, for all the world to see! When it comes to the potent power of 'Alahala' poison, he hides it in his throat. 'This is the way to punish!', says a poet by the name of, 'Dhandi'.
6. But to find faults and talk and write about that, is much on the increase, now-a-days. More learned you are, more the faults you notice. They claim that, 'to find faults is the job of knowledgeable person', or that, 'fault finding' is the characteristic of an expert. The Sanskrit proverb, 'Vidvan doshagnah', means that an expert will be aware of mistakes, so as to be able to correct the fault. Not someone who will make a big show of his 'fault-finding capabilities.' A good automobile mechanic will be able to identify the fault, just by hearing the sound of the engine. After identifing the fault, you may gently point out, to the person concerned. But you cannot go about endlessly repeating and publicising the same. If we have to point it out to someone, we have to be above such weaknesses ourselves. If we are full of noticeable faults ourselves, then any advice tendered by us will only be a waste. Or it may have the exact opposite effect of letting the offender become more reckless and shameless. We should resort to giving advice, only when we are qualified to do so; and our words will be listened to.
7. When You praise some good aspect of some one's good qualities; he may be motivated to behave even better. Even praise has its negative side-effect. Your praise of a person may be construed as flattery or make the person too proud. So if criticism is to be avoided unless essential; praise is to be sparingly used, as it is double edged. That is why, it is said that, "Only Your Guru and God could be praised directly. Relatives and friends, should be praised, not on their face; but others should be told about it. Workers should be praised after they have completed the job, ( as you may give a pat on the shoulders of a horse, after getting down from a ride). A son should never be praised."
"Pratyakshe guravah sthuthyah
Prokshe mitra bandavah.
Karyante dasa bruthyatcha
Na swaputrah kadachana."
8. Now, this sloka seems to explain away, the charge sheet that I have been reading about your behaviour. I am not supposed to praise my own children. I am supposed to, 'rub it in', when you make mistakes. So it means that I have only done my duty, in pointing your mistakes!
Sambhomahadeva.