I.
(iv)
Jatimada is the arrogance of
birth in a particular �higher� society and community. This also makes him
lose the balance of the perspective of life and society. It leads him
towards the disdain of the lowly in society and exploits them to his
advantage.
(v)
Bala mada
In this, one develops the sense
of superiority for strength and valour. He may become a tyrant and maniac.
Adolf Hitler is an example of a person who suffered from the illusion of
racial superiority and of the need for the extermination of the Jewish
people. He was so full of arrogance of power and authority, that when,
once, it is reported, Lord chamberlain asked him how he was so confident
of winning the war for which he was so greatly clambering. Adolf Hitler
called a few of his guards of the suicide squad and ordered them to jump
from the 4th floor and die. The Guards did jump and die. They
had to sacrifice their lives for the sake of glorifying the power of Adolf
Hitler. This is the arrogance of strength and power.
(vi)
Rddhimada This is the vanity of the possession of some extra-ordinary
power. The possession of miracles and supernormal powers through the
tapas and yougic practices may bring some powers. But one, purshing
the path of spiritual perfection, should desist from using them.
Otherwise, one is likely to lose the balance of mind and become arrogant
towards the fellow mortals. There are numerous instances Rsis who
have fallen from the height of spirituality because of their arrogance of
the attainment of certai power, and possession of wealth.
(vii) Tapo mada
refers to the vanity of ascetic practices. One feels superior because he
unlike the lowly fellow mortals� practises penance, that gives arrogance
of tapas, and he strays away from the true path of perfection.
(viii)
Sarira mada
is the arrogance of having a
beautiful body. We forget that the form and the physical beauty ar
temporary. They fade. We forget that we get old and that in old and that
in old age and in accidents. Defocoemcoes and deformities are formed. To
gorged this and to love and admire one�s beautiful body creates an
illusion of superiority and a disdain for the less fortunate fellow
mortals.
The 8 types cavity vitiate the mind , make us
forget the real nature of the pursuit of truth. We do not get back the
perspective of life and personality and we �lose the soul�
2.
we now turn our attention towards
understanding the 3 types of folly (Mudhata). They are 49
(i)
Loka-mudhata:
It refers to the superstitious practices in social and religious matters.
These practices are based on blind irrational foundations generations.
These refer to the customs and mores which are not directly recant to the
purpose of achieving the personal social and spiritual excellence. For
take the holy dips in the river and in sea for the sake washing off our
sins . If taking bath in the holy rives were to wash away our sins, the
Buddha asked, then the fish and crocodiles living permanently in the river
would have washed all their sins ans. would have been assured of a seat in
heaven. Similarly, practices like jumping from the top of the mountain for
the same reason would be blind practice. men worship all sorts of deities
made of sand and stone. Going �sati� after the death of the husband is
also irrational. All these practices are rooted in ignorance and blind
superstitious beliefs regarding the good of man. They constitute the
ignorance of the populace Lokamudhata.
(ii) Devamudhata
50 refers top the worship of the fierce and benevolent deities from
whom we expect protection, punishment or rewards. We worship the deities
for the sake of propitiating them so that the fierce deities may not harm
us and benevolent may reward us with prosperity. We forget the fact that
the god is a spiritual force. He neither rewards punishes. If he or she
were to indulge in such tasks of rewarding and punishment, they would be
steeped in the baser impulses and emotions of the animal world. Such gods
are no gods. We should free ourselves from such superstitious practices.
They are rooted in the practices of the primitive ma handed down to us for
centuries on end. This is an anthropological problem for study.
(ii)
Gurumudhata 50
is the following a guru ( teacher or
preceptor) who does not possess the requisite excellence of a guru. A
true teacher is one who has mental, moral and spiritual excellence. He
must have knowledge and wisdom. He is selfless and compassionate. He is a
seeker after truth. But very often we run after persons who do not possess
these qualities and who are not fit to be called guru. They indulge
in all sorts of unseemly activities. To follow such gurus
constitutes Gurumudhata. This type of analysis of the folly has
great social significance. In our age, we find we run agter those mediocre
men who profess to have knowledge and power and who dote on authorities.
In our academic institutions like colleges and the Universities, we rarely
find real scholars who are devoted to their studies, pursuit of knowledge
and teaching. They are more interested in their personal benefit and they
run after administrative and political power. They indulge in unacademic
and unseemly activities. They are the teacher politicians. Such men should
be avoided and be kept away from the young impressive minds. However, it
is not to be said that this type of intellectual and social climate is to
be found in our time only. Socrates railed against the sophists and the
academic and political brigands. He crusaded against hypocrisy. And he had
to drink hemelok.
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