The Divine Lifestyle (2b)

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I AM NOT AFFECTED BY PRAISE OR BLAME(Chapter 2)- continuation -

'You have to become toughened by the hammer strokes of joy and sorrow until you are unaffected by the vicissitudes of fortune.'(Sathya Sai Speaks Vol IV - pg 54)Hence

if mind is what makes or breaks man, then slowly those who come closer

to the Teacher are subjected to tests. A standard one child can only go

to standard two if the examination is passed. Likewise, any student

wanting to gain greater proficiency in a subject must be exposed to the

rigorous examinations and tests. Passing these tests only mean that he

is ready to face the next. The material world has no other means in

place to bring the best out from anyone. In the spiritual world, the

same applies.The sorrows and misery inflicted create mental

worry and anxiety. All spiritual practices only confers the stamina for

us to detach ourselves, watch our actions and reactions in those

suffocating circumstances. The moment we move to the 'screen' mode, we

watch our own mind tossing and turning, being whip lashed by the

onslaught of life's circumstances. Spiritual practices gives us the

information needed to move our mind from the 'movie' to the 'screen'

mode. In the movie mode, we play the victim of our own tragedy but in

the screen mode, we merely become the witness. We acquire the capacity

to even learn from our own mistakes, tragedies and pitfalls. This is

what Bhagavan precisely urges us to do. Hence, sometimes when we become

more spiritual, hard knocks on our lives increase multiplying our

agonies. The mind is being orientated to free itself from experiencing

pain.'Man

should maintain equanimity in pleasure and pain, loss or gain. Without

pain, you cannot enjoy pleasure. Sorrow is the royal road to joy.

Sufferings are the stepping stones that lead man towards virtuous

conduct. One should never be elated by pleasure or dejected by pain.'(Sanathana Sarathi May 1994 - pg 113)This

is an ideal but very difficult to practice. If someone close passes

away, should we not cry? Is this ideal not generating mono dimensional

robots without any feelings or human emotions? Is this equanimity? Many

have asked this question. The ideal appears too utopian and

impractical, however, the Teacher must state the ideal.

 

A

gym trainer will ask his students to jump and cross the 6 feet height

pole vault. Students who have never jumped that high will look at the

Teacher with suspicion and scorn at his ambitious plan. Hence, the

teacher must lower the crossbar to 4 feet and this will facilitate many

students to clear this height with ease. Gaining the confidence, he

raises the level of expectation until he achieves the intended height.

Likewise, Swami must state the highest expectation and it is up to us

to develop ourselves to reach the intended stage.In life, we

are always expected to respond to the circumstances, sometimes

unpleasant ones. Did not Lord Rama cry when Seeta was kidnapped? If

circumstances make us fall, then do fall. Fall not like a heavy brick

but fall like a bouncing ball. At every bounce, the ball drops only to

rise higher in stature and grandeur to fulfill his dharma.'The

stage of equanimity so essential for spiritual progress can be gained

only when the intellect is cleansed of the blot of deluding attachments

and involvements. Devoid of that serenity, the intellect or Buddhi

cannot proceed on the trail of Brahman.'(Sutra Vahini - pg 16-17)Even

when we are at work or at school, the best from us can come only when

the mind has gained an inner peace. The agitated and anxious student

will never be able to recall what he has studied inside the examination

hall. The fidgety job seeker blurts out the most ridiculous answer to

the potential boss during the interview even though he knows the actual

answer to the question asked. Anxiety to reach a destination has failed

many drivers to act appropriately in crisis situation, thus causing

accidents and mishaps. Tired and weary minds of doctors have

contributed to medical negligence. It is common knowledge that a

soldier cannot learn how to shoot in the middle of a war. When

circumstances pose as challenges, the inner equipment must be ready to

meet all of them perfectly.It is for this reason that we must

acquire this Divine quality of equanimity at an early age. This is a

prerequisite for exploration of the higher realms of consciousness.'There

are various habits which can be learned in order to ensure equanimity.

When someone insults you or defames you or ignores you, accept it with

a smile; this is the way of the world, it is basically ungrateful,

ill-mannered, they are doing me a good turn, my strength is on trial. I

shall not yield to anger or resentment. Tell yourself such invigorating

things, and be quiet, with a smile of triumph on your lips. There was a

Sanyasin once who was roundly abused by a gang of mischievous young

men. He said, "Carry on! Enjoy yourselves! I see that you are very

happy at the chance. This is exactly what I desire for you." When you

do not accept the insult someone casts on you, it goes back to the

person who indulged in it first; a registered letter that is not

accepted returns to the sender. Do not damage you mental peace by

receiving the letter and reading the contents. Refuse to read it. You

have a chance of correcting the wrong doers too; accept it and you join

the gang of mischief-makers. So be warned!'(Sathya Sai Speaks Vol VIII, Chap 44 - pg 229)When

working in groups, one is forced to interact. All interactions will

involve at some stage communication. In the process, sometimes we are

criticized, other times we are praised. But here again, the Teacher is

hinting to us to be forewarned. Don't react to either. Become a witness

and know that this is the way of the world. Maturity is needed to

possess such an attitude. Unless one develops such an attitude, the

mind will be dragged into the muddy confusions of the world. It will

lose its spring to jump to higher stratospheres of contemplation, and

hence, deny the mind from fathoming the real purpose of birth.

The

Teacher too has not been spared from criticisms. To a letter from His

brother dated 25th May 1947, who was concerned about the numerous

critics of Bhagavan during His early days, He replied :My dear one,I

received the communication that you wrote and sent. I found in it the

surging floods of devotion and affection, with the undercurrents of

doubts and anxiety. Let me tell you it is impossible to plumb the

hearts and discover the Jnanis, Yogis, ascetics, saints, sages and the

like. People are endowed with a variety of characteristics and mental

attitudes; so, each one judges according to his own angle, talks and

argues in the light of his own nature. But we have to stick to our

path, our own wisdom, our own resolution without getting affected by

popular appraisal. As the proverb says, it is the fruit laden tree that

receives the shower of stone from passers-by. It is not the way of the

great to swell when people offer worship, and shrink when people scoff.

(...) I have my own definition of devotion. I expect that those who are

devoted to Me have to treat joy and grief, gain and loss, with equal

fortitude.'(Shri Sathya Sai - The Yugavatara - S.D. Kulharni - pg 16)The

words in the letter are ample proof as to whom Bhagavan considers as

His devotees. Equanimity is the badge of the devoted. If one has this,

even the number of critics can be used as a yardstick to measure

success and greatness.'When

I am defamed, I never get incensed, for it is only the tree full of

edible fruits that is attacked with sticks and stone. Moreover, without

scorn and display of contempt, greatness will not shine and spread.'(Gems of Wisdom - pg 424)If

someone throws an insult at us, we must be happy that at least we are

worthy of the person's time and effort. All great people did have their

share of insults and criticism being hurled at them. Life stories of

prophets and teachers are full of stories of how they were tortured and

ill treated by people who misunderstood their teachings but not once

did they yield to suffering and compromise as they were entrenched in

their beliefs. Such strong rooted beliefs freed their minds from being

tossed in the waves of sweeping insults and mud flings. Their minds

were tied to the seabed of equanimity that provided hope and life for

the thousands that followed them.'By

not getting excited over the angry words of a critic, one becomes

superior to the critic. Otherwise one descends to the same level as the

critic.'(Sanathana Sarathi June 1996 - pg 156)We

must not show our face to the bull dog just because it naturally shows

his to us. Hence to rise above the rest is learn how to be different in

the way we respond. Working in the world and expecting to be praised

all the time will also end in disappointments. Initially, any teacher,

in order to motivate and kick start the student into the path of the

pursued goal, will offer praise or words of encouragement. The

teacher's close attention and scrutiny will fuel the student's

inspiration. But eventually, the student must stand on his own and

aspire for perfection purely for the thrill and joy of achieving the

goal. Very often when praise is not showered or when promotion if not

granted, the workers lose their zeal and merely produce half-baked work

which is devoid of interest and inspiration. Continuous inspired work

is born in the womb of equanimity and the world today critically needs

man to acquire this Divine nature to face the mounting pressures of

day-to-day living.

'You

must not ask for reward when good work is done, since it is your duty

(dharma) to do correct work. Its reward is its completion.'(Sanathana Sarathi April 1996 - pg 102)Completing

a given piece of work with inspiration is in itself the reward. Working

with eyes on the profit of name reduces the beauty and glory leave

alone the thrill of work itself. Any one who sees good work will want

to know who was behind it. Good work leaves the name of the person

responsible for it unadvertised. Such people are often sought out by

the rest. Hence it can be seen that the quality of being in equanimity

is a quality not just needed to attain spiritual enlightenment but

becomes a vital nature to pursue even material goal. There is a

practical way in which we can develop this nature :'The Buddhi (intellect) in us is the witness of all things in this objective world.'(Dhyana Vahini - pg 19)Here

it is emphasized that intellect is the towering light house from where

we can have a sweeping scan of the objective world, to analyze and

interpret information in order to execute proper judgment. Hence it

must begin to dawn on us the importance of maintaining silence.The following advice that Bhagavan has given is the key to develop equanimity.'Learn

to let all conflicts spawned by the mind to play them out and cancel

each other out as the Yadavas did on the battlefield. Be the witness to

the holocaust. The ultimate solution to the conflict is not decision or

even choice, but passive being. Dare to remain inconclusive. See the

endless quandaries of the mind as Divine Leela, His sport, as the

natural function of the bundle of desires called mind. Do not believe

in mind; do not rally to its assertions and appetites. Watch the mind

from a distance, do not get involved in its tumblings and turns. Then

everything becomes insignificant. When everything recedes into

meaninglessness, you are in the hub, in equanimity'...(A Compendium of the Teachings of Sathya Sai Baba - pg 663)This

advice if remembered can push our reactive gear into a matured

responsive one. Dare to remain inconclusive. Witness the turmoil your

mind gets into when in blame. Witness the swelling elation when in

praise. The intellect has an opportunity to judge and evaluate better

the circumstances when we enter in this witness mode.'When

you are at the level of Super Mind, you think that you are different

from others. This is dualism. It is said, 'A mind with a dual mind is

half blind.' Gradually, go up to the Higher Mind where you understand

your true nature. Then you reach Illumination Mind. Once you experience

this unity in totality, you attain Over Mind. That is your goal. That

is everything for you. All the spiritual practices are meant to attain

this goal.'(Sanathana Sarathi Jan 2001 - pg 21)The

stages of how the mind must slowly climb are indicated. The idea of

reaching equanimity conserves the energy of the mind, so that like a

twisting cyclone, it slowly grows in widening circles to the state of

the Over Mind. Imagine the experience of this state. Is it not true

that the higher the slide in the playground, the greater the thrill?

Roller coasters which are built to a high attitude motivate many youth

to travel hundreds of miles just to experience the thrill of the ride.

The Teacher here by pointing to this high state of the mind that should

be reached, implies that life lived from this stage of evolution will

provide greater excitement and thrill.(From : THE DIVINE LIFESTYLE by DR SURESH GOVIND,With the consent of Sathya Sai Central Council of Malaysia)Visit : Sai Divine Inspirations : http://saidivineinspirations.blogspot.com/ Sai Messages : http://saimessages.blogspot.com/ Love Is My Form : http://loveismyform.blogspot.com/