The very first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is called Arjuna Vishada Yoga. It is called the yoga of Arjuna’s confusion. We have heard of clarity being called yoga. How can confusion be called yoga, you may ask. It was Arjuna’s experience of confusion and the resultant expression of sorrow and tears in the presence of a smiling Krishna that evoked the attitude of a disciple willing to surrender at the feet of the Master, expressing readiness to experience that state of oneness of mind.
The tradition of debate and discussion and ascertaining the truth has been part of the philosophical fabric of Bharat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi narrated a real incident of an interesting debate to show what it is to communicate in a dialogue without anger. He was talking at a conclave in New Delhi on conflict resolution, environment and consciousness. He quoted the example of Adi Shankara and Mandana Mishra as a great instance of dialogue in peace. The deal was between Adi Shankara, a renunciate vedantin, and Mandana Mishra, a householder who believed in the importance of rituals. Adi Shankara was of the opinion that emancipation of mind is not attained by mere rituals. When they looked around for a judge for the debate, Shankara chose Mandana Mishra’s wife. A wise woman that she was, she was game for the debate. If her husband lost, she would lose her husband. Nevertheless, she gave them both fresh garlands to wear. The one whose garland faded first is declared the loser and once lost they have to become like the other—a sanyasin or a householder.
The debate started and Adi Shankaracharya won. Mandana Mishra gave up his life as a householder, embraced sanyasa and became a disciple of Shankara. While the story shows the importance of dialogue without conflict, the tradition of dialogue and community reflection of a thought itself clears the mind of a million worm-like doubts.In modern times, it was Swami Chinmayananda who revived this discussion to learn the concepts of life through the system of study groups. In an ideal study group, a minimum of six members come together in an inspired atmosphere of learning, created in any drawing room of a house. Each one would read a paragraph aloud, discuss the important points with others. What would take a long time to read individually will be understood in just an hour of discussion with other members.
When ideas are discussed in an atmosphere of camaraderie, then clarity is born. If no discussion happens, then the most brilliant ideas are simply buried in books or remain sealed in compartmentalised minds. A lively debate to realise the truth of a topic leaves you in the end with a meditative state of mind.
Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya
(www.sharanyachaitanya.blogspot.in)