18. Aratiḥ Janasaṃsadi

The eighteenth value of jñānam is aratiḥ janasaṃsadi, which translates to the absence of a craving for company, or not revelling in the assembly of people.

The phrase breaks down as follows: ratiḥ means a ‘love for’ or ‘inclination toward’ something, and the prefix a negates it. Jana means ‘people’, and saṃsadi means in ‘assembly’ or ‘collection’. Therefore, this value indicates a lack of compulsion to court company.

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of this value based on the teachings:

Not a Hatred or Fear of People It is crucial to understand that this value does not prescribe a hatred or fear of company. Company itself is not inherently bad, and seeking seclusion because one is afraid of or cannot stand people is an unhealthy extreme. A person possessing this value is perfectly happy in the presence of others if they happen to be around, but they simply know that they do not require people to be happy.

A Companion to the Seventeenth Value Aratiḥ janasaṃsadi and the seventeenth value (vivikta deśa sevitvam, the love for a quiet place) are companion values that beautifully complement each other. They both point to a mind that is fundamentally happy and comfortable with itself. Such a mind does not use the constant company of others as an escape, nor is it disturbed by the absence or presence of people. It maintains perfect composure in either situation.

Preparation for Vicāra (Inquiry) The ultimate purpose of not courting company is to establish the right frame of mind for a contemplative life centered on vicāra, or inquiry. Vicāra here refers to the profound inquiry into the fundamental questions of existence: Who am I? What is this creation? What is my relationship to God?.

Unlike inquiry into tangible objects (like baking bread or studying grammar, where one can observe physical changes), inquiry into the true Self involves something fundamental but intangible. Because the Self cannot be trial-and-errored like a physical object, appreciating its non-objectifiable wholeness requires a highly contemplative and sensitive mind.

Sensitivity Without Hurt To grasp the subtle teachings of Vedānta, the mind must be extremely sensitive, but not in the negative sense of getting easily hurt at every turn. The preceding values—like non-injury, accommodation, and the shedding of pride and pretence—serve to protect this sensitive mind from taking unnecessary hurt.

When the mind is free from the need to constantly surround itself with people to escape its own thoughts, it becomes a fresh, simple, and undisturbed instrument. This non-reacting, contemplative mind is perfectly prepared to appreciate the whole truth of Self-knowledge as it is unfolded in the teachings.