Listening
- Truth: In the verse, the underlying Truth is the honourable nature of duty; the Kshatriyas are graced with an opportunity that is both a privilege and a calling to their dharma – upholding righteousness.
- The happiness mentioned is not superficial joy but a profound fulfilment that comes from aligning one’s actions with one’s purpose and the cosmic design.
- This Truth teaches us that in life, we should not shy away from the responsibilities that come naturally to us, for they are our paths to higher consciousness and fulfilment.
- Truth is the core of our being, guiding our duties.
- Hearing: Hearing is a passive reception of sound, and in the context of the verse, it would imply acknowledging the existence of opportunities and responsibilities that life presents to us.
- It is the first step toward taking action – recognising when life is calling us to engage in our respective battles, be they professional challenges, personal struggles, or societal issues.
- Yet, in this stage, there is a risk of merely acknowledging these calls to action as external noise, without internalising their significance or our need to respond.
- Hearing captures the calls of duty and opportunity.
- Listening: Listening is a profound, active engagement with what we have heard; it is the absorption and contemplation that transforms noise into a harmonious symphony of insights.
- In this stage, we genuinely connect with the truth of our duties, much like Arjuna eventually does with Krishna’s guidance, grasping the essence of his role in the cosmic order.
- Listening is when the duties resonate within us, stirring the soul to act – no longer out of compulsion but from a place of deep-seated understanding and dedication.
- Listening transforms heard words into wisdom.