Gita 12.19
Bhakti Yoga
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् | अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः ||१९||
tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣṭo yena kenacit | aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ ||19||
In essence: Equal in blame and praise, silent, content with anything, homeless yet steady-minded - that devoted person is dear to Me.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Equal in blame and praise - but praise motivates me and blame helps me improve!"
Guru: "Tulya doesn't mean ignoring feedback. It means not being emotionally destabilized by either. You can learn from criticism without being crushed. You can appreciate praise without becoming inflated. The information is useful; the emotional reaction is optional."
Sadhak: "Maunī - silent. Does this mean I shouldn't speak?"
Guru: "Mauna is not muteness but mastery over speech. Words arise from silence and return to silence. The maunī speaks when needed, helpfully and truthfully, then returns to inner stillness. No compulsive talking, no nervous filling of space. Silence is strength, not awkwardness."
Sadhak: "Content with anything seems unrealistic. Don't I need basic comforts?"
Guru: "This doesn't prohibit effort or preference. It means not making contentment conditional. 'I'll be happy when...' is the ego's endless postponement. The devotee finds contentment as a baseline, then acts to improve conditions if appropriate. Contentment doesn't preclude effort; it enables it without anxiety."
Sadhak: "Aniketa - homeless. Must I leave my home to be dear to Krishna?"
Guru: "Symbolically, aniketa means not identifying with any place as essential to who you are. You may live somewhere, care for it, enjoy it - but your identity isn't bound to it. If circumstances require leaving, you're not destroyed. True home is consciousness itself, which goes wherever you go."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Practice mauna for 15-30 minutes. Not just not speaking, but not mentally chattering. Notice how hard this is. The pull to fill silence reveals our restlessness. Return to stillness. This morning practice sets the tone for the day.
When praise or blame comes, observe internal reaction before responding. Can you receive feedback without emotional surge? Practice contentment (santuṣṭa): whatever the day's circumstances, find something to appreciate about them as they are.
Reflect on where you were steady (sthira-mati) and where you wavered. What made the difference? Notice if 'home' attachment arose - needing familiar surroundings for peace. Can peace exist independent of place? Rest in the inner home that travels with you.