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The one thing women (especially) should avoid || Acharya Prashant, at St. Xavier's, Mumbai (2022)
Shakti
2.7K views
1 year ago
Emotionality
Suppression
Ego
Wisdom Literature
Detachment
Communication
Conditioning
Internal Conflict
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that one must engage in conversation with parents or seniors rather than remaining silent, but this engagement should not stem from an emotional center. He explains that there are typically two problematic options: suppressing feelings or reacting with an emotional explosion. Suppression eventually leads to a destructive outburst that shatters relationships and mental peace. He notes that the traditional culture of authority and silence has resulted in a generation that feels disregarded, leading to eventual disrespect. Therefore, it is the responsibility of elders to teach the source of behavior rather than just the behavior itself. He emphasizes that one should not speak when feeling a strong urge to burst out, as that is a reactive state. Instead, one should withdraw and choose a better time and place to respond. The ego tends to magnify a few minutes of hurtful words while ignoring decades of a relationship, distorting memory and perception. True engagement is an art that requires waiting for the right conditions when the other person is ready to listen. He points out that during heated arguments, neither party is truly listening, and internal filters further distort any message being conveyed. Addressing the specific challenges faced by women, he explains that emotionality and reactiveness, often conditioned by nature and society, act as significant handicaps. He urges women to understand their emotions through detachment rather than viewing emotionality as a strength. He highlights that while external forces like patriarchy exist, the internal forces of physicality, insecurity, and reactive emotions are often the greater enemies. He concludes that wisdom literature is essential for maintaining a centered mind and avoiding the torture of a fragmented mind, especially for those who are more frequently targets of aggression.