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Gunatitanand Swami Parva - Day 3
Nirman
Having a big ego means you think you’re better than those around you, that you think about yourself instead of how you can help others, and that you think you are the most important person around. I’m sure we’ve all been around people who have been like that sometimes. If someone has a big ego, how does that make you feel?
Nirman is made up of two Sanskrit words: Nir (meaning ‘no’) and man (meaning ‘ego’). If some has no ego, then that means that they are humble. Let’s look at an example of this.
Once, the head of an important mandir came to Junagadh. He saw that there was a sadhu sweeping the courtyard of Junagadh mandir. The visitor asked the sadhu “Where is the head of this Mandir? I wish to speak with him.” The sadhu humbly folded his hands and replied “He will soon be sat inside so you can wait there for him”
The visitor went inside to wait. A few minutes later, the sadhu had finished sweeping, washed his hands, and came to sit in front of the visitor.
The visitor was confused. “I thought you were sweeping outside. Are you the head of the mandir?”
The sadhu replied with a smile, “Here, one who serves is the true leader!”
This sadhu was none other than Gunatitanand Swami, and this prasang happened when he was 76 years old! That means he had been head of Junagadh Mandir for 36 years but he still did basic seva like sweeping the courtyard, even though he had an important position for a long time. He always stayed humble.
QUESTION: Think about the last time you were in an important position, like your birthday. Would you have helped clean up afterwards? Would you share your presents with your brother or sister straight away?
If we stay humble, that means we’re not worried about what other people are doing or what they think. We can focus on our studies, our seva, and our bhakti, and do the best job we can for Maharaj and Swami’s rajipo. That will make sure we grow stronger in Satsang rather than fall back.
We always need to remember that Maharaj is the all-doer - everything that happens is because of his wish. If we keep this thought in mind, it helps us stay humble.
Instead of thinking we’re the best singer or the best footballer, we should remember that Maharaj has given us the skills.
Next time we get an amazing present, we should think that Maharaj could have let that person give us a present that we wouldn’t like.
If we get full marks in a test, we should thank Maharaj for helping us remember all the right answers.
QUESTION: How would it make you feel if someone was humble instead of having a big ego?
Activity - Discussion:
- In your family, discuss some examples of when you weren’t humble in the past and what you could have done differently.
- Then come up with some examples of times in the future when you could be humble.
Extra Activity - Gun Grahan:
- We all know Mahant Swami Maharaj loves when we do Gun Grahan - remembering the good qualities of people.
- Go around your family members and come up with examples of when they have been humble