MEANING OR FEELING?

When some one behaves in a particular way, we try to look for meaning in their behavior. But people expect feeling in other words empathy from us.
Even when we read scriptures we look for technicalities in judging others lives however we could look for empathy, sensitivity and magnanimity in  scriptures with reference to our wrong behavior.
Scripture plays the role of giving meaning and feeling. Simply looking for meaning gives us dry scholarship and simply feeling gives us sentiments, but when we have the ability to understand when to see meaning in scriptures and when to find feeling in the scriptures then we get the wisdom to deal with people and ourselves appropriately.

Sri Krishna heard of Yudhsthira being offensive to Arjuna in regards to Arjuna not fulfilling his vow of killing Karna.  Arjuna had come looking forYudhishthira enquiring about his welfare when Yudhishthira was hurt in the battle and had returned  back to the camp.   Yudhsthira thought Arjuna had come to give the good news of his having killed Karna. When Yudhsthira realized Arjuna had not killed Karna, Yudhsthira insulted Arjuna. Arjuna was angry and was about to attack Yudhisthira.
Sri Krishna stopped Arjuna,  asking him if he knew the reason of why his elder brother spoke that way.  Sri Krishna told Arjuna, "in one sense you heard what he said, but you should have felt why he  said what he said."   In other words Sri Krishna told Arjuna that the feeling is more important than the meaning.  Sri Krishna with great feeling communicated  to Arjuna the feelings of Yudhisthira's difficulties.
Arjuna understood and eventually with the blessings of his brother accomplished the difficult task of killing Karna.

Looking for meaning is important but what about feeling?  It is the difference between knowing and understanding or having a right map and reaching the actual destination or seeing gulab jamoon and eating jamoon.

Why not harmonize knowing and feeling, acting and living, conveying and communicating teaching and learning. Does it make sense?

HANUMANA APPROVES

After a long struggle Hanumana eventually came to the place where Sita was kept as hostage by the demon Ravana.
As Hanumana saw mother Sita, he spoke to himself, " the golden hued Sita is certainly the dear queen of Sri Rama. Even though she is not in the sight of Sri Rama she has not separated from his heart. This is the same Sita for whose sake he is constantly tormented because of compassion,magnanimity,lamentation and love."
His heart was overwhelmed and he said while reflecting about Sri Rama's thinking, one woman has taken our shelter hence there is a feeling of helping her, a feeling of lamentation because she is separated from me  .She is dear to me and I am feeling great separation. sustaining my life only because of the immense love for one another ." Hanuman reflecting on this transformed himself to Sri Rama in his mind and he congratulated Sri Rama for chosing mother Sita as His wife.

Hanumana was celibate but not insensitive  in his understanding of the needs of others .He was sensitive and  appreciative of what a householder could go through in separation of his wife. The great renunciate approved their marriage and considered  Sri Rama very fortunate.

Hanumana taught us the power of handling a contradictory lifestyle with great empathy.
Hanumana could have been indifferent to a house holders life since he was celibate, but he had a view that was integral and hence he lovingly decided to unite Sri Rama and Sita . He dived into action mode and his goal became Jai Sita Rama.

RESOURCES OR RELATIONSHIP ?

When we  are faced with a choice between relationship and resources, it is a difficult choice to make. The mean people also exhibit their affection to near and dear ones what to speak of ordinary people. It would be easier to have both or at least having relations and resources in a satisfying quantity.

Before the battle of Kurukshetra Arjuna, had to make the difficult choice between Sri Krishna and Sri Krishna's army.
Sri Krishna asked, " you want me, who will neither fight nor throw missiles or you want my army, which is large in number and every soldier is as powerful as me?"

Sri Krishna was asking Arjuna to make a choice between resources and relationships. Choice between priceless values and convenience.
From a practical perspective,Arjuna had come to krishna for collecting resources and conveniences, so that his army could out number the Kaurava army.

Arjuna without even the slightest  hesitation asked for relationship over resources and values over convenience.  It was an emotional  decision but was it a good strategy?
Affection is one thing but fighting with insufficient resources was a reality for Arjuna, then why was he unrealistic?  Duryodhana was convinced that the Pandavas had ruined their prospects of victory.
Arjuna told Sri krishna in response to the question of why Arjuna chose Sri  Krishna, he said that he needed Sri Krishna alone, even if it meant facing challenges.  Arjuna's understanding was, wherever there is Sri Krishna that itself is victory, and everything else is a detail. Arjuna knew that he himself was very resourceful, but he needed the guidance and grace which was available only with Sri Krishna.

In our life we will not be challenged with such conflicting situations. We may face the challenge of wanting more resources  vs a relationship.
Unfortunately people chose to cut all relationships because they are  inconvenienced and they choose some resources at the price of completely severing a relationship.

Is it possible to balance?
If one does that then he becomes satisfied like Arjuna, who was enterprising in acquiring resources but not stupid to give up his relationship.
He was practical and prayerful.  Duryodhana on the other hand was down right stupid and senseless.  He lost Sri Krishna his resources and his life.

Reflect about this and work on your labour which is your responsibility and balance between Sri Krishna's love and your leadership

HRISHIKESH AND GUDHAKESHA

Sri Krishna is also called Hrishikesh for he directs the senses from getting diverted or withdrawn from action.  Gudakesha is another name for Arjuna, which means one who controls senses including sleep or one who has conquered ignorance.

Controlling senses as an inspired act is good but not using them for positive engagement is an abuse of the society.
The abuse may be active or passive .   Arjuna not wanting to retaliate or give justice to the wrong doers and genuinely wanting to forgive and retract from engagement in the world was noble, but when Arjuna  decided to live on begging it seemed like a crime. It almost felt as if he were attacking some one for no cause other than abuse  of the person.

Arjuna's senses were getting distracted and were not focused on his duty, hence Sri Hrishikesh, the director of the senses had to direct Arjuna's senses by inspiring him through the song of compassion, the Bhagavad-Gita.

It was a long dialogue between a person who was distracted for good reason and the person who directs the senses in the right direction.  The conversation between Hrishikesha and Gudakesha is an immortal one.
Whether one is a Gudakesha like Arjuna withdrawing senses for a noble reason or one who is full of ignorance and passion, engaging his senses in a brutal way, both need the direction of the director of the senses. 
Sri Krishna is available through his immortal words to direct our senses.  This alliance of Gudakesha and Hrishikesha is guaranteed to give us contentment and fulfillment.