Hari
Om
Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation
These articles first appeared on Yamini-amma's personal blog. They
were designed to promote deeper thinking on values, personal growth, Vedantic
understanding - and to prompt conversation. Use them for contemplation either
before or after your regular meditative practice.
Hitabuddhi…
No. Not 'hit a buddy'… that's "heata bood dhy"… close enough for the YAMster's work.
Moving on. This translates as 'well-disposed' or 'friendly-minded'. We all appreciate when someone is this to us - but how are we to them?
As has been mentioned, Vedanta concentrates on getting the mind straight, and everything else will follow suit. It is the ultimate self-development tool. There are no quick fixes, no magic mixes, extirpating elixirs, potent potions or even any ten-minute tablets. What is continuously stated with patience and emphasis is that purushaartha - self-effort - will pay dividends.
Any philosophy we choose to see us through life, if it is worth its salt, will impress on the adherent that steady and regular application of the exercises and disciplines within it are required to manifest what is promised. In the majority of cases, this is to be the very best human beings that we can be.
To apply oneself in this way requires a keen mind, a dedicated mind and a kind mind.
A mind which is constantly flitting hither and thither will not succeed. Distraction by any external thing which attracts and attaches us to it will cause the mind to resist the focus required for this kind of self-development.
One of the measures as to our state of mind is how we are disposed towards others. This was mentioned in the Ahimsa post. We can use all the sweet words we like, but if the intention behind them is less than sweet, those very same words become sour and even poisonous. Perhaps not directly to those who hear them - but certainly to our own inner being! Softness of mind is not the same thing as weakness of mind. This is often the mistake made. To be gentle can require great strength of character - particularly in stressful situations. Knowing when to be हितानुकारिन्/hitaanukaarin - act in a manner which is right and kind - can mark us apart in a crowd.
It is not a condition we can summon up on demand. We need to be instinctively kind. It IS something we can cultivate. First, we have to be aware of our prickles, our spines. Watch when those barbs are released from within us. They may not reach the voice or the hands, but the thoughts have risen and disturbed the equilibrium. To point and blame another for disrupting our thoughts is pointless.
We alone have control of our thoughts. We alone are responsible for how we respond to any situation. Others' opinions and deeds may have the potential to harm us - but it is up to us whether we permit this or not. If we have cultivated true kindness, true hitabuddhi, we will be able to turn without harm.
Remember there are many points of view in the world and many ways of delivering those views. Being hitabuddhi means that we can listen, but we do not necessarily have to take them on. We have the choice to reject, to turn away (hrit/harati), but we do not have to do so unkindly… be firm, but be fair.
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