This chapter is the English translation of Gujarati Book Title - Sadhak and Sathi Author - Shri Atmanandji (Dr. Soneji) CHAPTER 21 UNIVERSAL FRIENDLINESS (MAITRI) If we were to look to the fundamental reality, the soul within every creature is just like the soul within us. He who realizes this truth, genuinely develops a special sense of friendliness with every living beings of the universe, and we may call this delicate feeling universal friendliness. Deep meditation (Samadhi) leads to the success in spiritual progress (Sadhana). Samadhi can be attained by right meditation, and one important factor in the process of meditation is a spirit of equanimity towards all Souls (Jivas). The adverse feelings are, "These Jivas are my enemies, they inflict pain on me, these are my adversaries, they insult me, these are not on my side," and so on. If an aspirant (Sadhaka) nourishes such feelings directly or indirectly, no feeling of friendliness can develop in him; and without a firm feeling of such friendliness, the mind cannot progress in the real thoughts of God or real meditation. DEVELOPMENT OF FRIENDLINESS: Acquiring true knowledge is a must for Sadhana of real universal friendliness. The knowledge acquired should be applied in the day-to-day working of practical life. If a businessman looks upon all Souls as equal to his own, how will he deceive any customers by delivering goods of inferior quality? How will such a teacher show prejudice to one or the other student? How will such a person speak ill of other persons? Thus, we can understand that with the dawning of universal friendliness in one's life, one cannot possibly make adverse worldly day-to-day dealings and will rather proceed to cultivate general goodwill towards one and all. This applies to an average good citizen of any country or mediocre aspirant (Sadhaka). Supreme friendliness can be cultivated only by great munis or monks who have acquired supreme self-control. Their universal friendliness is of supreme quality. Their spirit of friendliness has spread and pervaded not only to all human beings in the world, but also to all animals, insects and even vegetable-life! Munis therefore take care not to inflict the slightest loss, pain, insult and so on on any living being in their life. To understand lives of these great people, deep understanding and their personal experiences are essential. Without this one cannot understand universal friendliness. A typical unique atmosphere of the experience of utter peace and delight is usually experienced in presence of such personalities, in whose life this friendliness has reached its climax. That was the reason why the ancient great monks, Rishis and self-inspired Acharyas of this country used to live in and moved through jungles fearlessly and in peace of mind even in the midst of violent animals. This was, because the intensified spirit of friendliness of these great souls deeply influenced the violent animals, overwhelmed their inborn enmity and then lived in peace and non-enmity. Let us be inspired by these great people and discard outright the narrow mentality that prevails and persists in our family, cast, creed, sect or society. Let us show real affection and regard for all human beings and creatures as we show it to ourselves; then alone the foundation of our spiritual life can be solidly laid. If we were to think over this only superfluously and by mere argument, it will sound impossible. However, if we think over this deeply and look to the lives of saints practicing supreme Samadhi, it can be proved to be true. GLORY OF FRIENDLINESS: 1. May the holy stream of friendliness continue to flow in my heart. I always wish the whole universe experience result in perpetual bliss. 2. Know the self, know it at once. Cultivate a spirit of equanimity with all souls, let this be carved in the heart. 3. I experience equality with all souls and enmity towards none. I give up all desires and aspire to Samadhi. 4. He is a real person of God, who respects all in the world, criticizes none, and steadies his speech, passions and mind. Blessed indeed is the mother of such person. 5. Always cultivate a spirit of benevolence for all, delight for the virtuous, compassion for the afflicted and tolerance for the ill-behaved. This forms the basis of prosperity and spiritual life. LIVING EXAMPLES OF FRIENDLINESS: (1) Shashibushan Bandopadhyaya was a very successful and famous advocate of Calcutta who lived in the early part of the 19th century. He was well known for his honesty, compassion, and philanthropic attitude of life. During the beginning of 19th century, Shree Shashibhushan Bandopadhyaya was working as a government pleader in Hugli near Calcutta. Once, at noon, in the hot summer of May, he hired a horse cart and went to the house of a well-known gentleman for some work. It was a pleasant surprise for the gentleman. When the work was over, and it was the time of departure, he said, "Sir! you could have sent a note with your servant instead of having taken the trouble of coming to my place in this hot sun. I would have visited you." The pleader replied, "Yes, it occurred to me in the beginning, but when I thought of this scorching heat, I did not feel it right to send the servant. If he would come, he would have been either walking or on a bicycle, instead of a horse cart and in that case, he would have suffered more this terrible heat. With this in mind, I preferred to come myself." What a humane treatment of the servant it was! He looked upon the servant also as a friend! (2) Acharya Shri Buddhisagarji was a great Jain Monk of Gujurat who lived in the early part of the present century. He was a great yogi, scholar, and historian. He was the founder of the popular pilgrimage place "Mahudi" in Northern Gujurat. He was also the author of many high standard spiritual books. Acharya Shri was in the habit of sitting in a nearby cave for meditation at night. Now and then violent animals wonder around the cave. Shree Mohanlal Bhakharia notes, "Once, while he was seated in meditation, a black cobra six feet long entered the cave. I got up at once and warned him, "Sir! There is a big cobra nearby!" The Acharya opened his eyes and said, "Why are you afraid? A cobra delights in the company of saints and munis!" Surely there was no fear in the heart of a saint who has a clear vision of a soul similar to his in all living beings! He experiences a spirit of friendliness towards all, be they violent or otherwise. This is real friendliness indeed! About sixty years ago, Shree Buddhisgarji was spending last few days of his life. Dr. Cooper, a famous surgeon of the city of Anand, had examined him and declared that the body of Shree Buddhisagarji had now only a little time to live. However, the Acharya remained engrossed in the discourse of knowledge and meditation, unaffected by this declaration. (3) About a hundred years ago, a saint, Dwarkadasaji by name, was meditating (Sadhana) in a holy place called Hrishikesh. He was totally concentrated in the spiritual ecstasy and remained naked, Digambara (clothed in the sky). Once a British officer was hunting nearby and he killed a tiger but the female tiger escaped. As the officer was proceeding to the forest to kill the female tiger also, Dwarkadasaji said to him, "Please do not kill the female tiger today, she is very much pained by the death of the tiger." After a while, as Dwarkadasaji was lying down, the tigress came. As the officer seated on the elevated platform (Manchado) to shoot her, Dwarkadasaji requested him not to shoot. The tigress came near to Dwarkadasaji sniffed him, and left towards deep woods. The officer was simply stunned. He inquired, "Why did the tigress not kill you?" The reply was "I do not even think of killing anyone. How will others kill me then?" This shows how violent cruel animals forget their enmity in the presence of saints who have adopted real friendliness in their lives.