Right Behavior

One must learn the right and correct behavior, which is the key to ones growth spiritually. We all are taught to behave in a specific way towards olds but we never learn to behave righteously with the elderly because neither we are taught who are elder nor we have any way to find out by our selves who are elders among us because what we know is to see someones age, if they are old and then behave in a way as per the cultural set up we live in or the societal norms taught to us.

What is the difference between older and elder? Older is the one who's body grows but Elder is the one who's energy grows. e.g. King Janak is older but Ashtavakr is elder to him and Janak bows & serves him. The growth of energy means the occurrence of the gnowledge (ज्ञान) upon one. So, if one wants to grow spiritually then one must learn to adopt the righteous behavior towards the elders or the higher beings as they are energetically higher as well as higher in wisdom. Right attitude towards learning is when you "know nothing" like an empty vessel and you are willing to learn from the higher being, who is a teacher, perceptor, master or guru and that being can be in any form of relationship like Shiv as husband to Parvati bestows gnowledge upon her, Guru Nanak as Master showers the wisdom upon His disciples and companions Bhai Bala & Bhai Mardana and so on. There are plenty of examples in the history of mankind where the taught/ disciple has learnt through his righteous behavior and observation of the master. And, There is no other way to learn the divine gnowledge. 

Bhagwad Geeta mentions as below:

tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah

SYNONYMS

tat—that knowledge of different sacrifices; viddhi—try to understand; pranipatena—by approaching a spiritual master; pariprasnena—by submissive inquiries; sevaya—by the rendering of service; upadeksyanti—initiate; te—unto you; jnanam—knowledge; jnaninah—the self-realized; tattva—truth; darsinah—the seers.

TRANSLATION

Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.

Bowing to elders has been an ancient vedic practice

This implies that the disciple must approach to the master/teacher with the righteous behavior. Let us look at what should the disciple do, if he/she is willing to grow spiritually. There are two aspects of the righteous behavior: 1. behavior in general, 2. behavior while putting up a question. Now, the behavior in general include bowing and greeting, not just asking for things for material things or wishes. Because, asking is not the law but right behavior is. Like Kunti serves Rushi Durwaasa and He gives her the boon, Raavan bowed, did his tapasya and gets the boon from Lord Shiv. So, one must adopt the right behavior and you get served naturally. Apart from this, one must follow the general discipline sincerely while being with master or elderly or higher beings. e.g. not to chat too much or not to consume alcohol/non-veg etc. as one's master teaches them. 

Second is, while putting up a question to master. Most of the times, people make it a conversation which leads to no conclusions but there is a right behavior of asking your query too. Before asking or putting up your question, you must bow while folding your hands, greet and, humbly ask your question. That is the right behavior which is explained, mention in every ancient vedic text. Parvati bows & greets to Lord Shiv before putting forth her query, King Janak did it while seeking divine gnowldege from Ashtavakr, Nachiketas did it to Yam before putting up his quest in the Kathopanishad. 

"Asking makes you a slave, a beggar while serving & 

bowing makes you righteous in your virtue"

Hope this will help you learn and inculcate the right behavior in your practice. May you have any question, you may write to me in the comment section below or email me at mahasatsanga@gmail.com

Love, V

"Right Behavior Series, Note-1"

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Google
• Tumblr
• Pinterest