COURAGE AND NAMASMARAN: DR SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

Student: Sir, don’t you think the saints were timid, when compared to warriors, revolutionaries or even activists?
Teacher: This is totally wrong!
Student: But sir; they never endangered their lives. They never faced threat to their lives. They never had to go to jail for being active against injustice!
Teacher: Most of the time it is thought that being physically or overtly reactive in spite of danger is equivalent to being courageous!
Student: Is it not true?
Teacher: It is true when compared to being unable to react out of fear of one’s life, property or risk to one’s children! But the saints were not overtly reactive; NOT because of timidity! It was because of the realization of the helplessness of criminals and the victims alike! They could see through the pining souls of the sinners and sufferers alike!
Hence they were not impulsively and overtly reactive but far more courageous than the rest! This can be testified by their assertion in face of every threat to their life from inside as well as outside! They could face all adversities with the valor that was unmatched! This has to be differentiated from the incidental and impulsive courage; in face of a particular challenge (which is also commendable if compared to outright cowardice).
Student: I did not think of this! This courage and bravery concealed in apparent lack of reactivity, responsiveness and violence is not easily apparent!
Teacher: True! Wars, insurgencies, terrorist activities, street fights, spying, policing, adventures and even crimes, abusiveness, mudslinging, admonishing, insulting someone; are associated with courage and heroic image!
Saints realize the truth that the bondage of subjectivity is a seed of all maladies and is a problem common to all; and the only panacea is NAMASMARAN! Hence they do not get dragged in any piecemeal approach of overt reactivity; how much ever valiant and commendable it may appear to others! Neither do they yearn for public admiration; nor are they disheartened or deterred from their path of practice and promotion of NAMASMARAN; by the public flak, insults and humiliation as cowards!