The Speaker and the Listener

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The Speaker and the Listener

I attended a speech yesterday, evening of New Year Day. Two hours, no central theme, no continuity. It was an unbearable experience (for me). This note resulted from that experience.

How could a speech be? Does Gita say something about this? Not directly, but we can infer from the 14th and 17th chapters. What is your status when you leave the hall?

1. You leave the hall, without any thought, or the words merely entered through one ear and left through the other. Neither the speaker nor the speech deserve to be discussed.

2. You leave the hall praising the speaker, his/her vocabulary, his/her spontaneous amd extensive quotes, his/her voice etc. etc. That means he/she spoke for personal glory. The 'me' in him/her is bulkier than the ideas he/she is supposed to be expressing. You convert to become his/her 'fan'. His/her photos may adore your purse, room walls. His/her books may sneek into your shelf. People around you may feel that you are a great devotee/scholar, but when you talk, you tend to talk more about him/her and never about any IDEA or thought. "He/She addressed the UN."; "You know, he/she has disciples from all over the world"; "He/She is now on European tour, giving speeches in all major towns."

wink emoticon

. "What did he/she speak?" if you are asked, your answer in all probabilities will be, "Oh! What can I say? He/she talks so..... beautifully. You should once listen yourself". You become a sort of advertizing agent for him/her. You are never, never going to be benefited by him/her or his/her speeches.

3. You leave the hall stirred up. An idea engulfs you. It persists with you for a few moments, or few hours or even a few days, even if you are involved in other tasks. You tend to think. You seek books, friends and other means to listen to the idea, to discuss the idea, to clarify the idea, to digest the idea. This goes on till you reach at a resolution. This idea may open a new path in your life. You may forget the speaker. You may or may not continue association with the speaker. If you continue, that will be merely to share thoughts. Flattery, worship, eulogizing etc. have no role in this association. In future, when you speak, you will, in all probabilities, speak the idea and never quote.

4. You leave the hall thought less but this state is different from the first mentioned state. You are silenced. You are dazed. You are in a state of ecstasy. You are dumb struck. The Idea, the speaker the hall, the surroundings etc. disappear. In fact, if such an experience is real, you will remain struck to the place and not leave, at least for a few moments. Not speech, even silence can cause such an impact. A touch by a great soul may cause this experience. It is an experience of revelation. This can not be shared with others. Such an experience dramatically changes YOU, or the superficial you, you supposed yourself to be and reveals the Real You.

This state is best described in Shlokam 29 - Chapter 2.

आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेनमाश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः |
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः शृणोति श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् ||

A word of caution ; This is not to be used to judge and give marks to the speakers. That will boost Ahankaara. This may be used to choose your preferences and fine tune your own life.