Dear Reader,

    There is a difference between positive emotional reactions and just positive comments or positive feeling. We should definitely appreciate others with the aim to reinforce their efforts and encourage them, but this appreciation can be given without emotional reactions in it. Of course for an average person, positive emotional reactions are certainly better than negative ones. A seeker, however, is advised to become aware of and control all reactions for the following reasons:

	Reactions are manifestations of the mind whereas the aim of a seeker is dissolution of the mind.
	The aim of spiritual practice (sadhana) is to increase spiritual emotion and reduce psychological emotion.
	Another important point to remember is that reactions need not only be negative; even positive emotional reactions deplete one’s energy. Instead. that energy could be diverted towards one’s spiritual practice.

The below will help clarify what is meant by emotional reaction:

	One can appreciate the other person even without reactions. For example if a person has made a nice dish, on saying “Wow! What a fantastic dish, it is just superb!” with a loud and strong voice would mean appreciating with reaction. One can make a similar appreciative comment without being so reactive; for example, one can calmly say " This dish is very tasty."
	Since the aim of the seeker is dissolution of the mind, by reacting as given in the first example, we have reinforced an emotional response in our mind, while in the second case, the appreciative remark is still made but without any reactions.
	In the first case, the appreciation creates an emotional reaction in the other person and could aid in increasing their ego, while in the second case the other person will accept the compliment without emotional reaction or an increase in ego.