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Prakriti, attention and Truth || Acharya Prashant (2018)
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5 years ago
Prakriti (Nature)
Attention
Truth
Passive Awareness
Receptivity
Little Self
J. Krishnamurti
Abandonment
Description

Acharya Prashant responds to a question about whether observing Nature (Prakriti) with attention can lead to hints about the Truth. He affirms this but expands the definition of Prakriti beyond just natural elements like flowers and birds to include all of creation, including man-made structures like buildings. He states that whether one looks at a bird's nest or a man's house, observing it reveals a lot about the 'little self'. The concrete jungle, he explains, is also Prakriti. The speaker then clarifies the quality of attention required. He cautions against the idea of attention being at its 'highest', as this implies a tension-filled effort. Instead of forceful attention, one must be relaxed and receptive. The Truth, he says, comes to you; you don't have to chase it. The right approach is to simply unlock your own door and offer non-resistance, much like a devotee who opens his doors and waits calmly. This is contrasted with the futile active pursuit of the beyond within a self-declared periphery, which he likens to searching for a hippopotamus in Connaught Place. To find the Truth, one must let go of self-imposed boundaries and embrace a 'carefree abandon'. The Truth comes when you are not actively looking for it, as it does not like 'stalkers'. The key is to wait patiently, silently, and devotedly, without being occupied elsewhere. He advises abandoning the active search, referencing J. Krishnamurti's concept of 'passive awareness,' which emphasizes passivity over the ego's love for activity. The devotee is passive, while the pursuer of knowledge is very active. This passive receptivity is a form of inner work. Instead of hunting for the Truth externally, one must hunt within to shoot down everything that resists the Truth. The barrier against the real thing is often that which poses as the real thing. Therefore, passive receptivity is not about opening your door to everything indiscriminately, but about being alert and waiting with a 'garland for the beloved and a gun for the impostor'. It involves actively hunting down the false teachings that stand as a barrier to the right teaching.