Acharya Tulsi
He, whose conduct influences others, is called a divine personage. The great Preceptors fall in this category, because they are authentic persons. Their knowledge, vision, speech and action---this four-fold pilgrimage is equivalent to going round the truth. Their speech is never violating of truth. Similarly their conduct conforms to truth. ln the transcendental field, the Preceptors are the divine personages. They are possessed of supernatural knowledge and vision. Their consciousness is never blunted. Their authority, therefore, is never suspect.
In the mundane world, Chakravarti, Baldev, Vasudev and Prativasudev are recognized as divine personages. Their character and behaviour are considered to be ideal for their age, which the common people follow. In this context, it has been observed in the Gita:
The way the superior person behaves- other persons also behave like that. The conduct which is considered to be authentic by the superior person is taken up by the common people as an example to follow.
Today, we have before us, neither the omniscient Preceptors, nor the great emperors. The age of community-chiefs, of Rajas and Maharajas in long Past. At present, in the transcendental files, the representatives of the Great Preceptors are the Acharayas and in the mundane world, the community and political leaders. If these are treated as divine personages, they must also preserve the dignity of their conduct in accordance with their own ideals. While engaging themselves in any work, they must keep it in mind that their activity is not confined to themselves alone. Every word they utter and their simplest deed is open to public criticism. And it does not merely end there, since the public is likely to follow what they say. That is why there is all the more need for restraint and self-discipline in their life.
The President is the first citizen of the country and the future of the whole county lies in the hands of the Prime Minister. If there crop up some differences between the President and the Prime Minister, it affects the whole country. If the relationship between the Governor and the Chief Minister of a State is not harmonious, the consciousness of the entire region stands blunted. If some tension develops between the Acharya of a religious organisation and his deputy, the vitality of that organisation is adversely affected and the organisational discipline grows lax. Similarly in the pro—vice—chance or, or the Departmental Heads, the entire educational set-up is affected and the spirit of indiscipline grows among the students.
However powerful a man might become, after all he remains a human-being. Because of human weaknesses, he is liable to violate proprieties at some time or the other. But if people occupying high positions start humiliating one another, how will be able to prevent outside criticism. Their thinking or their method or working may be different. A worker might have committed some mistake. In such a situation, if a suggestion is politely offered, or constructive criticism made, it proves effective. But the criticism of a low order is merely stultifying. On such occasions, the intermediaries often serve to poison the atmosphere further by their misreporting’s to both the sides. In the effort to make them more important, they do things which increase the distance between the parties and the doors are shut on an amicable settlement. At such a critical time, only he, who, without becoming a plaything in the hands of the intermediaries, freely offers his hand of friendship, can preserve his dignity.
A little friction between the great ones can cause a lot of trouble to -the common people. There is a saying in the Rajasthani language, "lf two bulls intrude into a field and start fighting, and the destruction of the plants is imminent." The plants are perfectly innocent, but they are ruthlessly crushed in the fight between the big animals.
Another proverb says: “in the grinding of the corn, the weevils too get ground."
This is what happens to the smaller fry when two mighty opponents collide. When the level of criticism deteriorates, criticism assumes such a repulsive form those disintegration inevitable sets in. More or less, every environment contains certain disintegrating or obstructive elements. The moment they get wind of some disruption somewhere, these saboteurs and malcontents get busy with their sabotaging activities, which harms the country, the party or the institution they belong to, and the individuals themselves. Sometimes, even decent people get caught in this whirlpool, and later they cannot get out of it, even if they desire to do so. Even if someone shows a way out, the mask of prestige blocks one’s path and one is forced to retreat. It is necessary that in order to fulfil their responsibilities and presenting the dignity of their individuality, the ’big’ people be generous enough to tolerate each other. Only by doing so, can achieve the grace of a divine personage.
