In our pursuit of higher ambition we are constantly juggling between dichotomies - success and failure, attachment and aversion, hope and despair, happiness and misery.
Every day we see and experience and confront these dualities of life which narrow our perspectives to one of the two limiting states:
success or failure,
happiness or misery etc.,
But there could be a situation when the two are balanced. In such a condition, we neither carry the feeling of attachment with success and the resulting feeling of hope and joy, nor that of aversion to failure and the opposed feeling of despair and misery.
That is the state of equanimity in activities, speech or thoughts. If I were to provide an analogy of the same I suggest we consider the following:
The concept of equanimity corresponds to the "(dynamic) state of equilibrium" used in physical sciences, when the tendency for change in opposed directions is nearly balanced. Also, in thermodynamics, if the system in changing from one state to another the output of work gets minimized then it is far from the equilibrium condition. Extending the simile, state of equanimity is best suited for achieving optimum success in any objective by an aspirant on the path of realisation.
While I am no expert, The Bhagavad Gita explains the principle of equanimity thus: "Attachment and aversion by sense organs for respective objects are natural; let no one come under their sway; they are his foes…notions of heat and cold, of pain and pleasure have a beginning and an end, are impermanent in nature…bear them patiently…be contented with whatever comes without effort, remain unaffected by pairs of opposites".
It also says that the serene minded person alone, to whom dualities do not disturb, is easily set free from bondage of samsara (world / cycle of rebirth) and attain moksha (salvation).
Do I practise this way of life? I am sure I don’t and though fervently hope to reach that stage before too late!!
No comments:
Post a Comment