| Discourses On Gita By Acharya Vinoba Bhave |
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| Discourses On Gita |
| ANOTHER SUPPLEMENT : PROGRAMME FOR THE SEEKER |
The Name of the Lord takes away sin27. All this is very well. But the question now arises, "This Name, 'om tat sat,' is only for the pure man. What is the sinner to do? Is there a Name which even in the mouth of a sinner is beautiful?" The Name om tat sat has this power too. Every one of the names of the Lord has the power to lead us from untruth to truth. It can take us from sin towards sinless ness. We have to purify our lives little by little. The Lord will surely help. In our weakness He will support us.28. If a man asks me, "On one side is a life pure but proud, and on the other, a life sinful but humble; which would you choose?" Though my tongue may not utter it, I would still feel in my heart of hearts : 'The sin which makes me think of the Lord, let that sin come to me. If a life of virtue will bring forgetfulness of the Lord then let me rather have the life of sin that would bring me thought of Him." This does not mean that I plead for a life of sin. But sin is not so sinful as pride in one's virtue. Tukaram says, "All this knowledge, I fear, my Lord will only hinder me." Yes, we can do without this greatness. It is far better to be a sinner and grieve. "The child that is too clever, even the mother pushes him away."But the ignorant child the mother keeps in her lap. I do not want to have a virtue that is sufficient unto itself. I would rather be a sinner clinging to the Lord. The holiness of the Lord can hold all my sins and still survive. Let us try to avoid sins. If we fair, our hearts will weep, our minds tremble. Then we will remember the Lord. He has been standing by, watching the fun. Cry out to Him, "I am a sinner; I have therefore come to Your door." The virtuous man has a right to think of the Lord because he is virtuous. The sinner has a right to think of the Lord because he is a sinner. |
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