Ripus - Enemies to the Quest

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba states that inner enemies must be controlled, but he also allows that "...you can (and must) use them, ... within limits. e.g., Kama (love, passion) for one's partner, krodha (anger) against unrighteousness, Lobha (greed) for Hari Nama, uttering God’s name, Moha (fondness) for Mukti (salvation), Matsar (hatred) for evil action; and have no mada (pride)." (Sai Baba's Charters and Sayings)

[note: the number of ripus (enemies) mentioned can vary dependent on stress/interpretation of any given Sage. Here, Sai Baba mentions all six enemies (shadripu). Sri Ramakrishna often laid stressed on kAma and lobha [the others left unsaid but understood]. The core ripus (shadripu) - kAma (desire, longing, passion), krodha (anger), lobha (greed, covetousness, confusion), moha (attachment, delusion of mind), mada (pride), matsara (jealousy and/or hatred). Although kAma (passion) is sometimes presented as enemy number one, in truth, without moha (delusion of mind), even passion would remain forever latent.]


These ripus should be controlled by means of discrimination (viveka). Viveka also reveals when it might be appropriate for the sadhaka to use these enemies as allies (ripupaksha) - e.g.  longing (kAma) for continued engagement in the quest; anger/offense (krodha) at repeated misinterpretation or selfish misappropriation of the teaching of Guru, or at forgetfullness of vichara, etc.

Major Chadwick reveals, "I once saw Bhagavan appear really angry, the atmosphere in the Hall was electric; one felt afraid. The occasion was the visit to the town of a popular Swamy who initiated all and sundry, in fact anybody who came to him, without any sort of preparation. He taught them a form of breath control which proved very dangerous to those who practised it without observing certain necessary restrictions. He was quite the fashion for a short time ... Two of this Swamy’s disciples came to the Hall one evening just before the meal. They asked Bhagavan some questions which he readily answered, but they would accept none of his answers and tried repeatedly to put him in the  wrong. Bhagavan was very patient with them and tried for long time to put them right; but at last their impertinence became such that Bhagavan flared up and went for them in a frightening way, but they were so hardened that it seemed to have but little effect. They were eventually ejected from the Hall forcibly and driven from the Ashram, Bhagavan remarking that “they came here to try and undermine this teaching.” (from "A Sadhu's Reminiscences" pages 65-66)

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