The Royal Road to Holistic Balance and Progress
— Akhand Jyoti
Even within the immense uncertainties of life, maintaining a calm and unperturbed state is an ideal condition. In Shrimadbhagavad Gita, this is the state that has been described as Sthitprajñatā. This very state has been instructed through Yogaḥ Karmasu Kauśalaṁ and Samatvaṁ Yoga Ucyate. This is the fundamental principle of the perfect art-of-living. An expert player in life is one who has learnt to live a balanced life, even in the presence of extremely turbulent conditions.
This is also true that uncertainty seems more prominent in worldly life, and the state of lasting contentment seems to be a far-off possibility. Every wave of life seems to push a person away from his core; however, this is also a test of his prudence, patience, diligence and a test of being a human. It also strengthens the foundation of his upward righteous elevation. Probably this is why God has bestowed special powers and capabilities on a human being before sending this life-form on the earth.
Someone has rightly stated that the real player of life is one who maintains his balance, equanimity and commitment for the goal, even among the extremely disrupting currents that are ever ready to disintegrate and destroy his personality. In the words of Swami Vivekanand, in the middle of the vibrant and turbulent currents of life, continuing to move towards one's primary goal, is actual excitement and the path of sādhanā. Once a person gets established in his core (primary goal), then it should be understood that he has attained his life's ultimate destination. Then he is able to experience the real joy of life while being in a state of detached spectator.
In this state itself the jīva becomes one with Lord Shiva, and a nara (human being) in company with Narayan (God, Lord Vishnu) is able to see and live the life-journey like a game; and roams around in a carefree and confident manner, even while being surrounded by the immense uncertainties of life. This is the ideal of Karma Yoga, the desired outcome of Bhakti Yoga, the extrasensory accomplishment of Gyan (Jñāna) Yoga, and the basic crux of the natural samadhi of a Dhyan Yogi. In this state of pure inner joy, a person lives a blessed life in this world, while acting like an instrument of the divine forces.
Guru Govind Singh ji was in this very state when he uttered the following words — 'Mai Parampūrakh Ko Dāsā, Dekhan Āyo Jagat Tamaśā'. In this very state, Param Pujya Gurudev visualized his guru as his divine mentor, and realized that the divine master is always with him and all around him. It is in this state, Gurudev realized the Will of Mahakal, and grasped the blueprint of the descent of the Age of Truth. Accordingly, he gave confidence to entire humanity about the transformation of the era and 21st century and guided the path to usher in the bright future. He also warned that this journey from the circumference to the center is not that easy.
Begin with Self-Discipline and Prudent Determination
This journey is both time intensive and painstaking. It demands honest efforts and courageous diligence from us. It expects farsightedness and firm determination even in the presence of various kinds of internal diversions, confusions, and temptations; the real excitement of life and its meaningfulness is hidden within this very mindset, and for this we are supposed to know the levels of self-control in our life.
In this regard, there are two key facets of life. One is that, on which we have full control, like our thoughts, feelings, behaviour and reactions.
The second facet is beyond our direct control; for example, others' thoughts, behaviour, external conditions like climate, and unavoidable situations of life like natural calamities, death, etc. Understanding this difference helps us in deciding where we should employ our time, energy and mental engrossment, and where we should not worry too much and be a quiet observer.
Following the above-stated guidelines, we can enlighten our future by controlling our reaction to external situations, staying focused on the present, and diligently performing our duties; and we can move ahead by extending our limit of self-control, and eradicating the worries and unwanted effects associated with things, situations and persons that are beyond our control.
Those who are not able to develop this understanding, keep complaining about adverse situations, while themselves sitting idle. Some hypocrites remain engaged in day-dreaming while waiting for favourable situations. This is similar to a situation where a traveller sits on the bank of a river and counts the waves while waiting to get across; well, the waves never stop to wait for someone, be it the waves of a river, or sea, or life.
In such a situation, some Columbus decides to cross the ocean; motivates not only himself but the entire group to search for India, the Golden Bird, and sets out on a ship. Tackling all the uncertainties and challenges of the ocean, he stays focused on his goal. Although, it is an altogether different story that Columbus, who set out in search of India, actually reaches America.
Here a person's will-power and desire also matter a lot. How earnest, how powerful is our desire — it makes all the difference. At the same time, how much price are we ready to pay — this is also important. Mere excitement, which keeps changing one's desire every moment, won't work here. Because of such an instinctive mentality, a person just keeps swinging here and there like a pendulum, but does not reach anywhere. His claims prove to be childish endeavours like the day-dreaming of Sheikh Chilli; his efforts go in the vain like trying to grow mustard on the palm. We should remember that, only curiosity and momentary enthusiasm, which disintegrates upon facing opposition, won't lead to any result.
Those who are not ready to pay the appropriate price; who do not believe in the power of truth, righteousness and goodness; who are continuously on the lookout for shortcuts for quickly moving ahead, instead of treading the royal straight path of life; who, instead of following the hard path of truth and dharma believe more in manipulation; such people get entangled in the circumference only, instead of moving towards the core, and are devoid of attaining their life's goal due to the divergent blows of the time. With the above mindset it is not possible to tread the path of jīvana sādhanā and achieve its goal. In times of uncertainty, in order to move forward, it is a must to have within the inner self, an intense desire for righteous upliftment, a firm resolve, and unflinching confidence.
The seekers of higher goals should ask themselves only one question — what price are we ready to pay for our ideals, desired dream; and when it becomes a question of life or death then the efforts of the seeker tend to be severely intensified. When an intense fire is burning within the inner self for one's truth, belief and goal, then that person is not far off from his target. His inner strength wins over turbulent situations, and, by conquering the self, the dedicated seeker moves ahead on the path of external triumph. He becomes a source of constructive transformation, and readily attains both self-contentment and respect of the masses.
The indomitable conscience of an unflinching, righteous seeker of eternal light moves like a perfect arrow towards the desired goal, which can't be stopped by any power of the world; instead, all the powers of the cosmos actually favour such a devout aspiration and endow their innumerable blessings on it. When such a sādhak's resolution harmonizes with the will of the all-pervading Supreme Consciousness, then miracles of the order of the transformation of the era start happening.
"History is not just facts and events. History is also a pain in the heart and we repeat history until we are able to make another's pain in the heart our own." — Julius Lester
Tags: #sthitprajna #karma-yoga #bhakti-yoga #gyan-yoga #dhyan-yoga #equanimity #self-discipline #inner-balance #willpower #Bhagavad-Gita #Swami-Vivekananda #Guru-Govind-Singh #Yug-Nirman #sadhana #dharma #holistic-living #resilience #spiritual-growth