How to Handle Interactions

In this talk, Swamiji says that all our interactions commence, subsist and terminate in the mind and all experiences are inner. Every interaction has an object but in terms of experience it is totally internal. The interactional impacts and outcomes are also inner. Thus, we must strive to overwhelm the impacts, as the mind has to assimilate its own products.

Nothing in our interactions has an external focus. A seeker must practice forbearance towards the interactional impacts that he experiences in his mind. The mind has the power to assimilate its own products. All that really troubles us is our own intolerance. We refuse to accept or forebear.

Speaking of desires, Swamiji says that the desiring process is also internal. It is created by the mind, sustained by the mind and once we get the object, the mind feels the fulfillment. Therefore, desire fulfillment is desire-extinction. He urges us to pursue this state of desire-extinction and stay centered in ourselves.

When the mind starts overwhelming all interactional impacts, then all our interactions will be enriching. The strength of our mind lies in forbearing dukha. Suffering makes the mind grow.

Shlokas Chanted in the Track:

नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना ।
न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखं ।।
Bhagavad Gita 2.66

तत्त्वमाध्यात्मिकं दृष्ट्वा तत्त्वं दृष्ट्वा तु बाह्यतः ।
तत्त्वीभूतस्तदारामस्तत्त्वादप्रच्युतो भवेत् ।।
Gauḍapādiyakārīkā Vaitathya Prakaraṇam 38

पर्याप्तकामस्य कृतात्मनस्तु इहैव सर्वे प्रविलीयन्ति कामाः ॥
Mundakopanishad 3.2.2

PR 19 Mar 2018