Different things delight different people. But it is my delight to keep the ruling faculty sound without turning away either from any man or from any of the things which happen to men, but looking at and receiving all with welcome eyes and using everything according to its value.
– Marcus Aurelius 121-180, Roman emperor and stoic philosopher in “Ta eis heauton” (The things you say to yourself), VIII.43
Kabir – The couplet
???? ???? ?? ?????, ???? ??????? ?? ??? |
????? ????? ??????, ????? ???? ??? ||
transliterated:
Hira tahan na kholiye, jahan kunjaron ki haat |
Sahaji gaanti baandhiye, laagiye apni baat||
Translation:
Open not your diamonds in a vegetable market, (where their value is not recognized)|
Ties a tight knot to the bundle, and keep to your own counsel ||
My understanding:
This is sane advice from the Teacher. It is sensible to not share anything where it will not be received. As the old saying goes, ‘When in Rome, be like a Roman!”
This is not to say that we need to lose values – it is only to keep them to ourselves in spaces where they do not have value. This is an important value to have – for if we cannot protect our values, and the reason we have them, there is no value we receive.