Regulation 5

Tripod stool is the word that Master uses to speak of the three qualities of nature that one carries with oneself. They are sattva (poise), rajas (hyperactivity) and tamas (hypoactivity). Hypoactivity is the tendency to do less work than required. Hyperactivity is to do more than required. Poise is to do as much as is required, neither more nor less. Every human does certain things more than required. He does certain other things less than required. Consequently there is no balance in his work. Therefore poise absents itself. When poise is absent the stool would no more be a tripod, it would only be a bipod. Bipod is unstable. It cannot stand on its own. It falls either way. The three legs of the tripod are but necessary to sit stable on it. Not only the three are required, but also they should be equally strong. If not, the stool would not be stable to sit on. This balancing act is very important. Unless the nature of the person is balanced, one cannot progress. One cannot remain stable and comfortable. Stability of one’s nature is of immediate need. The tripod is also symbolised by a triangle. The three angles have to be tackled to ensure that the triangle becomes equilateral. Similarly the tripod stool needs to be tinkered to stay stable. Master CVV says that he is the Master Mechanic that conducts repair work. The repair that he aims at is the repair of the nature of the student. He continues to repair the nature until the angles are set, until acute angles disappear, until obtuse angles also disappear. Acute angles are those which tend to hurt others. Obtuse angles are those which tend to be blind to the surrounding sensitivities. Men can be obtuse like the bulls. Men can also be acute like the arrows. In one’s own behaviour one can see both these aspects. One needs to study oneself to see where one is obtuse and where one is acute. Unless these angles are set, one cannot sense the angels. Angles are the angels. Right angles are the angels which support. Right angles enable manifestation of right work. When the right work happens, joy emerges from within and one does not look for outer recognition or any other psychological or physical compensation. Work gains status of being joyful; work happens joyfully. It is no more working for joy. Work itself is joyful. All enjoyment is found in work. Other enjoyments taste not much. Such is the transformation the Master Mechanic conducts to clear the stuff, which is within oneself. In some other context the Master says, “I will clear the pod”, of which we speak in the future regulations.