How can we be both assertive about getting things done while being sensitive to others’ feelings?

Podcast

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
So, when we are expected to develop Vaishnava values Which include being sensitive And kind to others Truthful But, then, we also feel that certain things should be done In particular We want to stand up for a cause So, how can we be assertive At the same time, be sensitive and humble Humility is not about disrespecting oneself Humility is not about disrespecting oneself It is centered on respecting something bigger than oneself That means, I have some bigger cause to work And, I respect that cause I want that cause to work out And, that cause is bigger than me That I am not so infatuated I am not so self-centered I am not filled with myself I am filled with that cause So, that’s what Now, Srila Prabhupada, he had humility At the same time, he had determination He was assertive He would establish philosophical points He went, traveled around it so much So, first of all We often have some stereotypical notions of humility That we have to put aside Humility doesn’t mean letting others trample down upon us Humility doesn’t mean that Just accepting that other opinions are right Even when we feel or know that their opinion is not right Humility simply means that We don’t let our ego interfere with our purpose So, if my purpose is to get this done I won’t let my ego come in Even if I am dishonored, still I will do it Or, if I want to do this But, I am getting more honor in something else So, I will just let it go We don’t let our ego interfere with our purpose Humility doesn’t mean to not have a purpose at all We have a purpose So, being assertive and being humble Are in that sense not contradictory As long as we are centered on Krishna On the purpose of serving Krishna We can have both of them together Beyond that What we can see Is that as far as being sensitive is concerned If we focus while communicating Not so much on the person But, on the issue Not that you are wrong But, rather this position I don’t agree with because of this business So, basically Sensitivity is not meant to Not speak the truth Sensitivity means simply We try to speak the truth In as less hurting a way as possible Sometimes Say The truth is going to hurt But, just because the truth is going to hurt Doesn’t mean that we have a license to hurt people Just like we have to go to surgery Surgery hurts But, then Responsible surgery means That we try to cause as less pain as possible So, it is not that Just because surgery is going to hurt So, I just let it cause as much hurt as possible No We minimize the hurt So, sensitivity means that we simply This thing is like This is going to spark off emotions in people So, I have to be careful about how I speak We try to minimize the pain So, Minimizing the pain doesn’t mean Avoiding causing pain Sometimes surgery has to be done So, sometimes there may be differences in devotees also And sometimes we may have to point out how Some particular course of action is wrong The important thing is that we don’t make it As an attack on that person Okay, this idea This idea is I see this problem inside And therefore, I don’t support this I support this business So, if you don’t become If you don’t make it as an attack On that person And be careful about addressing Then we can be sensitive also So, bhakti is not Just about Being devoted to Krishna It is being about being devoted to Krishna In this world In this world means we have to do services In this world And If we have to stand up for a service We can do that But as devotees We can stand up Without standing on other people We can do that That’s what sensitivity is about Does that answer your question? Yeah, I mean