Heaven is filled with those who have failed but who have got back on their feet, dusted off their mistakes and follies, smiled and walked on with The Name on their lips and the comfort of a compassionate heaven in their hearts.

BABA RETURNED AND life got back to its normal routine. After dinner Baba motioned to Rudra that they should take a stroll on the beach. There was nobody. It was late at night. The sky was pregnant with countless stars and it was two days till full moon, thus, the beach was lit with a soft radiant moonlight and the sea was withdrawn within herself and one could hear the music of the waves but at a distance.

‘I know you want to ask me questions about life and all the usual queries most of mankind wants to know about. This is as good a time as any, ask and you shall be left astounded, my sweet demented child.’

Rudra smiled and said nothing. He loved his Master. As usual his Master knew everything.

‘Okay, my Lord of the universe, tell me something about inherent tendencies? Where do they arise from and why are they so difficult to shed from one’s deepest conscious and subconscious self?’

Baba walked in silence for a while. Then they sat down on the soft sand, facing the ocean, where moonbeams danced and made the water sparkle.

‘Whatever we have nurtured in various lifetimes becomes cemented as inherent tendencies in the present lifetime. If, for instance, somebody has encouraged anger in some lifetime, then anger will be the dominant characteristic of an individual in this lifetime. If you have nurtured greed through lifetimes, the tendency to be greedy shall become the dominant force of an individual in this lifetime. Hate culminates into greater hate. Calmness worked upon shall lead to a soft tranquil disposition. Selflessness will lead to Oneness and compassion and platonic love. Slowly through lifetimes whatever emotion one works with will eventually cement that characteristic or emotion into an inherent tendency. Most often our negative inherent tendency rules our disposition and our traits. They become our character flaws. It is always easier to come down than go up. Gravity works in the same way. Anger will have more presence in an individual than peace, till anger is not prevalent and only peace reigns. Thus, we see people with greater character flaws than character strengths.’

‘Then how do we go beyond our character flaws, Baba?’