127. Learn to Listen, to Learn

A two dimensional map is used to represent a three dimensional territory. It's an easy, useful and convenient way, but has its limitations. We need to experience the territory to fully appreciate it. The same is the case with 'words' which attempt to describe a multidimensional life in terms of people, situations, thoughts, feelings and actions. But words too have many limitations. Firstly, words are polar. If one is described as good we assume the other to be bad. There are hardly any words which can describe a state beyond polarities. Secondly, the same word evokes different feelings in different people depending on their experiences and circumstances. That's why some cultures use silence to communicate in order to overcome these limitations of multiple interpretations. Thirdly, we tend to stop at the literal meaning of words which is like knowing about the truth but not being truthful. One such word is ME which is used by both Krishna and Arjun. While Arjun's ME is his identification with divisions, Krishna's ME is oneness encompassing all divisions of the manifested existence. The awareness of the limitations of words will help us to understand the Gita. The following verse is one such instance. Krishna says, "O Partha, Listen; with your mind completely fixed upon Me, practising yoga, taking refuge in Me, you will without doubt come to know Me in full" (7.1). To reach Krishna's Me, we need to dissolve ourselves as a salt doll dissolves itself to be the ocean. Krishna used the word Shrun (Listen) which needs attention. We were taught how to speak. It could be a language or how to express ourselves. But we were hardly taught 'how to listen'. A closer look at life indicates that situations teach us to listen and grasp especially tough ones like the Kurukshetra battle for Arjun. Essentially it is listening to learn.