Use emotions, passion, and feelings in the journey of life (Sadhana). Do not let these flow away; at the same time, do not get entangled with them either.
Develop detachment.
--------------------------------------------
My two cents ---
When you sit quietly alone or in meditation or chanting, a flow of emotions and thoughts go through your mind (these are from your previous life experiences). This can be intense at times. It is advised in general to watch these and not get entangled. Pujya Shree Mota advises us to use this technique to develop detachment.
You cannot detach from anything that you consider to be a part of you. So actively watch this play in your mind with the express purpose of considering these thoughts and emotions as foreign and not part of yourself. It is a slow process but the rewards are great. Even a small amount of detachment will go a long way in preventing perceived miseries.
Does it work in real life? Of course it does. This is not a one day process but a continuing project for the rest of your life. You have to use discretion in your actions and follow your inner guidance when confronted with difficult situations. You get better at it as your Sadhana progresses. There is no magic to Sadhana; it is hard work and needs to be done while living in society with all its complexities. In fact, society is the testing ground for your development as per Pujya Shree Mota.
Developing detachment is one of the steps in Sadhana.
Ashwin
