According to William James, most persons have as many different social-selves as there are distinct groups of persons about whose opinion they care. We are one "self" in business, another in church, still another at home. Our many selves are sometimes quite incompatible with one another and so create endless confusion for us.
There is the story of a grocer who had always done business on Sundays until he and his family attended a revival meeting and became converted. The following Sunday, when a neighbour's child knocked at the door for her milk, the grocer's little daughter leaned from an upper window and said: 'Didn't you know we all got converted last week? After this, if you want to buy milk on Sundays, you'll have to go round to the back door.'
The story is told of a certain Elector of Cologne in Germany who was also an Archbishop. One day he used profane words in the presence of a farmer who could not conceal his astonishment. Trying to justify himself he said, 'My good man, I am not swearing as an Archbishop, but as a prince.' For which the intelligent farmer replied: 'But, Your Highness, when the prince goes to hell what will become of the Archbishop?'
Dear Vriju,
It is often tough to reconcile the conflicting demands of "different hats" we have to wear.
Look at the story from Thakur about the village woman doing a variety of jobs at the same time (cooking , bargaining etc) all the while keeping an eye on her baby.
This is the attitude we must have, doing everything while keeping your mind fixed at god.
Unni, you also reminded me of what Sri Ramana Maharshi used to say. He loved monkeys dearly and used to say that they were teaching us a spiritual lesson: they may seem to gambol or sit quiet, but their minds are always on the fruits, and whatever they may be doing, they go for them as soon as there is a chance.
Hi Vriju,
I didn't mean it that way. I believe the monkeys will go after fruits only when they are hungry,whereas we should fill ourselves with desire for the divine every moment of our life through pleasure and pain.
I'm getting something very different from the original post.
I remember a couple of years ago, I was working a second job in a book store, and a very young girl, maybe 10 or 11 came to me and asked a question. I remember thinking, "Wow, this girl is real" I can't tell you what it was about her. I think it was the way she looked in my eyes, or something about her voice. Her voice especially. And this experience has stayed with me. How often do we meet someone who strikes us as real. For me not often. I believe it is sort of vibrational. Have you ever been with a group of seekers, chanting the sacred syllable, OM, and suddenly the vibrational power becomes very real? It is very different from everyday life, and a little scary (to me). I am so used to the unreal, the posturing and posing and the tonality of untruth. How rare to find someone who strikes you as "Real".
