Acharya Prashant explains the story of the Tamil saint Shri Tiruvalluvar and his wife Vasuki to illustrate the profound connection between mindfulness and love. Shri Tiruvalluvar requested a needle and a bowl of water every time he ate, intending to pick up and wash any fallen rice grain so as not to waste it. However, his wife was so skillful and attentive in her service that she never dropped a single grain throughout her life. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that this story is not just about food, but about how one serves and interacts with a companion. It highlights the saint's resolve to remain fully present and mindful during the act of eating, ensuring that his mind did not wander into imagination or neglect the task at hand. Furthermore, Acharya Prashant discusses the nature of true love through the lens of discernment and responsibility. He points out that people often use their loved ones as dumping grounds for their own negativity, complaints, and mental 'poison' under the guise of intimacy. He argues that true love is characterized by great wisdom and discretion. Using a personal example from his life regarding a family accident that was kept from him during his civil services interview, he explains that a true lover first asks if sharing information will benefit the other person. He concludes that love should involve sharing peace and mindfulness rather than burdening others with one's own chaos and selfishness.
