A fake saint never accepts advice
Sadguru Nishkulanand Swami says that the one who can accept someone’s advice for his own kalyan is a saintly soul; the one who cannot accept someone’s advice for his own kalyan, and who cannot even wish to hear the advice is an unsaintly soul.
Ravan is an example of an unsaintly soul. His key quality was if anybody suggests him something for his own kalyan, he doesn’t leave them until they are beaten. He beat every person who came forward to advise him except for Mandodari.
Malyavan was one of Lanka’s prime ministers and Ravan’s maternal grandfather. When Malyavan gave an important suggestion to Ravan, Ravan beat him and threw him away.
Vibhishanji was his brother and a minister as well. When he gave a suggestion, Ravan beat him in a live assembly and threw him away.
Demon Maarich suggested Ravan, “You shouldn’t kidnap Sitaji for your own benefit.”
Ravan swiftly pulled out his sword and threatened to hit him.
Maarich continued, “I repeat, it is good for you to forget Sitaji and go back to Lanka.”
Ravan beat him so much until Maarich cried “I will never suggest you again.”
When Mondadori suggests him, he didn’t hit her, but he didn’t accept her suggestions either, thinking, “No worries. You continue to advise. I am not going to listen to them either way.”
He believes “I don’t need any advice. I know what I should be doing. I mastered all scriptures and I know everything.”
Duryodhan was along the same lines as Ravan. Great personalities like Lord Krishna, Vidurji, and Lord Vyasji tried to make him understand. Duryodhan did not hear any of their advice; he never saw the point of them trying to help him. He accepted the advice of only one person: the Sakuni.
Accepting useful advice is never the quality of an unsaintly person. He always thinks the other way: “Why don’t people do what I say?”, “Why don’t people take my suggestions?”
For our own kalyan, if someone criticizes us that “You don’t have those virtues,” and if we accept the truth in it, then we are a saintly soul.
Even if we have so many virtues, if someone tells us, “You don’t have that particular virtue,” and if we are not ready to accept it, then we are an unsaintly soul.
A saint accepts advice even from an enemy
A true saint accepts the advice that helps him in achieving kalyan even if the advice is from his worst enemy.
If we do not accept the advice that could help us achieve our kalyan, then we are a fool. Saintliness is in accepting the words that help our kalyan, even if it tastes bitter.
Nishkulanand Swami says that a fake saint doesn’t accept advice that could help him and end up miserably like Ravan and Duryodhan. A true saint happily accepts good advice from anyone. With that mindset, his love for Bhagwan and satsang increases every day.
References:
- Chosathpadi Katha Part 22 (Pad 23, 24).
- Chosathpadi Katha Part 24 (Pad 29-32).