Taking a sātvic scenario for the sake of simplicity:
A sādhak attends a day-long satsang of kathā with a strong resolve to maintain maun (silence) and keep a low profile. They get there. The morning session begins where a friend-associate comes and sits next to them "Hi!" You just smile. Slowly this friend asks you to read the sanskrit on the big billboard-like poster behind the speakers ' dias . Since the kathā hasn't yet begun, the speaker isn't there, and this is a good request, not jalpa (chatter), you agree. Slowly a few whispered exchanges during kathā , related to the kathā. After all, she is your friend .
In the afternoon break, a group is singing bhajans so beautiful, and your intention is to listen, but suddenly a person turns up out of nowhere and starts asking intrusive questions "Who is your Guru, Ishṭa Deva, ...." and much to your shock and surprise, they keep digging for personal information and spiritual experience. As if they know something already. The sādhak first resists, saying, experiences should not be discussed . The person convinces them that Kṛṣṇa says it is OK if the listener has faith and devotion . So they agree, but keep telling the curious one "Let us go out, it does not feel good to speak in the hall even if it is break time , only a few people are here and no one can hear us" They do not think it matters and insist that "we sit here" logic: the bhajan ladies cannot hear us anyway.
The evening session has a very very non-stop-talkative friend- associate with some common spiritual interest sitting next to you, and somehow, you end up whispering philosophical sentences in each otherś ears occasionally. Now the katha is over, but these two are continuing whispered discussion, and the katha-police walks up and catches you!
(but neither the morning friend, evening friend, nor the afternoon' s Curious George). "Talking during kathā is a sin" he sayṣ.
What will the mind' s reaction be?
A] This kāya-mana-buddhi is like that Adi-shaktiś tornado-whirlpool, and it messed up. Despite good intentions . But wait, I am not the doer ! This prakṛtī (nature), shakti (energy) is the way it iṣ. It has acted . No use getting angry on this little kitten who spilt all the milk . Perhaps, knowing how vulnerable she is, it is better not to attend for the rest of the week, since it disturbs the environment ("can't take her anywhere").
[Mind content and serene, no lamentatioṇ . Just apologizes to the kathā-police and goes home, never to returṇ]
B] Apologizes to kathā police, and keeps beating itself up for messing up! How could I be sooooooo stupid and give in to "bad" sanga ? It is my fault, I should not get affected by otherṣ. There is no excuse. I am terrible. Regret, lament, make resolutions to control the mind next time, and doubles japa or meditation in that regarḍ.
C] Gets upset and says -- well, they did it! I did not want to talk at all! It is all their fault! Shrugs .
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