Equanimity of mind

                                   Equanimity of mind

      Human being is the highest evolved one in the creation. It is with a purpose. With his unique power of discrimination, he alone is endowed with the quality to realize the true eternal changeless nature of Himself in this constantly changing world. Life is a means to achieve that end only.

Life is a web of both pleasures and pain. Being caught in this web, purification of mind alone can lead to Self-realization namely discovering peace and bliss within himself. To achieve this, he has to develop equanimity of mind. That is to treat pain and pleasure as the same, not allowing them to enslave him. This is called samatvam or yoga accordint to Bhagavadgita. This is the sign of a self-realized soul. Actually, pain and pleasure are at the level of senses only. If one's mind is strong, he can rise above them . Sufferings becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility but through greatness of mind . In the same manner ,elation arising out of pleasures can be controlled , not allowing the mind to be touched upon or polluted by it.
When the equanimity is achieved, the events of life are mere passing sceneries in the journey of life. He becomes a mere spectator only.
Seeing life not as a struggle, but as an adventure of all the senses and all the faculties, one can develop equanimity of mind.
The ideal of equanimity is advocated by most philosophies and religions of the world over.
Life is a web only. An ordinary person will get into the web of pleasure and pain leading to nowhere. Where as , an intelligent cautious man , will extricate himself with his strong mind and find out and reach the goal of bliss .
     
                            ' Thus Life is a grindstone ,
                               whether it grinds us down ,

                               or polishes up,
                                 depend on us.'

     A teacher was giving a lecture to students to treat the pleasure and pain at the same level,  not being involving oneself into it. He was emphasizing the equanimity of mind for achieving spiritual knowledge. The students could not understand much. The teacher to make the subject more clear, pointed them to a donkey on the riverside carrying a load of dirty clothes to be washed by a washerman. In the olden days, washerman would carry the bundle of dirty clothes on the back of a donkey, wash them in the river, dry them on the banks of the river and carry the washed clothes on the back of the donkey back home.

     The teacher said," my dear students ! Look at this , the donkey is not aware of the bundle of dirty clothes on its back and takes them merrily and the same donkey is not aware that the clothes that are washed on its back. Just it goes on the road carefree without bothering about the type of clothes.            
In the same manner, man should never feel elated in pleasure nor should be weighed down by the pain, but should carry on his duties."
'  Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free.
  Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing.'
This is the ultimate wisdom.

Thus developing equanimity, when one is at peace and love with himself, to that mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. He should give his best to the world. Thus in the words of Rumi,
         ' Be a lamp or a lifeboat,
              or a ladder,
            Help someone's soul heal .'
And ultimately, this makes one to live life to the fullest.