As soon as we say “I”, we are humbugged all the time; and we call it “knowable,” but it’s only going round and round like a bullock tied to a tree. . . Conquer yourself and the whole universe is yours.” — Swami Vivekananda
In a seminar at New York, Swamiji said ‘contact’ and ‘connection’ are not the same. After the seminar, a journalist requested him to explain further.
Swamiji enquired about the journalist’s family. The journalist said his mother had passed away and he had a father and four siblings. Upon further probing, he admitted he hadn’t spoken to his father in over a month, and his family hadn’t been together in more than two years.
Swamiji explained that while the journalist had contact with his family, the connection was missing. A connection, he said, is, “between hearts… sitting together, sharing meals and caring for each other; touching, shaking hands, having eye contact…”
The more outspoken we are today – especially on social media – the more attention we get, and the more important we feel. But in the process, we lose compassion, empathy, and the desire to make relationships work. This loss of connection creates a void that people try to fill with mindless entertainment, meaningless relationships, or substance abuse.
Guard yourself against this bias. Open yourself up to service, love, and empathy. Don’t remain in contact with hundreds of people online; connect with a few important ones offline instead.