Everywhere Adjustable

Have you heard of the phrase ‘Everywhere Adjustable?’ What is the precise meaning of these words? Would you be able to adjust or make do with circumstances or events that do not go your way? How would you react? Would you able to adapt to the situation or would you blame someone else? Or, would you simply just give up on the whole thing? Would you be an adjustable person or an adaptable person for conflict-free, peaceful living?

Param Pujya Dadashri says to adjust is religion. The real world experiences that He shared with us illustrate this beautifully. In this world, He would preach that we have to make adjustments to balance things out by adding or subtracting. Where there is a minus, He would plus it and where there was a minus He would plus it. For instance, if someone was to tell Him that His words did not make sense, He would simple reply, “You are correct.” He would immediately make an adjustment.

Let us discover the precise meaning of ‘Everywhere Adjustable’ by reading how Param Pujya Dadashri, the Gnani Purush or enlightened spiritual master, applied these words in His daily life. Here are a few of His life experiences.

His understanding for Sugarless Tea

Param Pujya Dadashri was often served tea without sugar. On those occasions, He would not say anything. So people would tell Him, "If you don't say anything, your wife [Hiraba] will become careless in these matters." He would respond by saying to wait and see what happens the next day. The following day Hiraba would ask Him, “Yesterday, there was no sugar in the tea. Why didn’t You say something to me?” He would reply, "Why do I need to tell you? You will know it when you taste it yourself. If you do not drink tea, then I would tell you. You drink it too, so is there any need for me to tell you?"

How He managed with Salty Kadhi

One day Hiraba made kadhi (a common Gujarati soup made from chickpea flour, yogurt and spices). It was good but salty. Param Pujya Dadashri thought to Himself, ‘There is definitely too much salt in the kadhi, but I can sip it in small amounts.’ As soon as Hiraba went to the kitchen, Param Pujya Dadashri diluted the kadhi with water. Whilst He was diluting the kadhi, Hiraba saw what He was doing and asked why He did that. Param Pujya Dadashri said that there was no difference between diluting the kadhi with water at the table or in the kitchen on the stove. Hiraba informed Him that kadhi should be boiled after water is added to it, to which Param Pujya Dadashri responded that it did not make much difference to Him.

Easily took a bath with Scalding Water

Param Pujya Dadashri had gone to have a bath and discovered that there was no tumbler to pour the water with. So, He decided to adjust accordingly. He tested the water with His hand and found that it was scalding hot. He turned on the tap for some cold water but found that the tank was empty. He did not give up, or get annoyed with anyone, He simply adjusted. He slowly and carefully cupped the water into His hands and cooled it in this manner, managing to take a bath. Outside the bathroom Param Pujya Dadashri could hear the Mahatmas (followers) saying, “Today Dada is taking a long time to bathe.” What could He do? He had to wait for the water to cool down. He did not inconvenience anyone.This much adjustable he was!

Always put Himself in other people’s shoes

Param Pujya Dadashri’s ability to adjust had no bounds. He would even adjust with a thief or a pickpocket. A thief could sense that Param Pujya Dadashri was compassionate by the way He would conduct Himself. He would never inform the thief that he is wrong because according to Param Pujya Dadashri the thief is acting according to his viewpoint. This is in contrast to most people who are likely to hurl abuse at the thief and label him a worthless being. Param Pujya Dadashri argued that such a viewpoint should then apply to other professionals like lawyers who represent fraudulent cases. They should be considered liars too. From a viewpoint one could argue that thieves are labelled as frauds, yet those lawyers that claim their own fraud to be the truth, should also be considered untrustworthy. And yet, despite this, lawyers manage to survive! Thus, Param Pujya Dadashri never informed anyone that they were wrong or bad. Everyone according to Him was correct by their viewpoint. He would simply explain the facts and inform them about the consequences of their misdeeds. He strongly believed that no one was bad. The differences of opinions amongst people are attributable to egoism.

The role of being thrifty, frugal, generous and completely adjustable all at the same time

Param Pujya Dadashri had an exceptional array of qualities. He was thrifty, frugal, generous and completely adjustable all at the same time. He was generous when it came to others, yet frugal when it came to Himself. He was economical when it came to preaching. People noticed that He practiced thriftiness too. His economy was adjustable and of the highest kind. He even economized when using water. He was the embodiment of naturalness and spontaneity.

Param Pujya Dadashri had no ego; therefore, He had no conflicts with the world. He could see that a rose was a rose, a jasmine was a jasmine, a moonflower was a moonflower, and a bitter gourd was a bitter gourd. He recognized all personalities. He preached that this garden [people] should be appreciated as they are.