Path of Equipoise

Aruna Dayal

A question asked – a path revealed

A seeker, delving into the secrets of the Gita became fascinated by the Lord’s description of a sage, as being wholly free of attachment and unaffected by joys and sorrows. He placed his query about this state at Param Pujya Ma’s feet about three decades ago. Her answer to him lights up our path today, clearly defining our unwillingness to take the steps to transcend the dualities in which we are absorbed.

In response to the seeker’s enquiry about the means to be adopted to acquire the perfect poise of the wise man, Ma took him to the very base. She exposed to him the root of the problem, explaining to him why joys and sorrows entrap us, and why our minds are embroiled in emotional vicissitudes

The trap of likes

When one gives absolute weight-age to one’s likes, and endeavours only to acquire all one craves for, one makes oneself wholly vulnerable to the affliction of misery. When one seeks out congenial people and circumstances catering to preferences, one is likely to be negatively affected by every adverse event: crippled by criticism and puffed by praise.

Such a mind set demands that fate, too, is submissive to its will. Such an individual wants Destiny to fulfil all his desires and to bestow on him all the bounties he craves. His energies are engaged in the pursuit of people he likes, and objects he desires. He does not know the term ‘acceptance’ for he cannot accept what is unfavourable or unpleasant; he cannot accommodate that which he dislikes.

Stranger to oneself

Further, he has no acquaintance with his own nature and nor has he any interest in the Truth. His attention is engaged in the external world. His internal world is shrouded in ignorance. He has never inquired into his motives, examined his intentions nor doubted his deeds or questioned his attitudes. Thus he cannot tolerate criticism and can be immediately swayed by praise or acclaim.

The clarity of Truth

However, the highly evolved seeker of Truth has transcended all likes and dislikes. He is unaffected by the smiles of fortune or the frowns of fate. He is untouched – destiny may deal with him in any way.

Such a sadhak is committed to the pursuit of Truth in life. He realises that he is governed by destiny which ordains the lot of all men. He is wise enough to know that the dictates of fate override all persuasions of well wishers and all intellectual arguments, all protests and fulmination. What will be, will be. He blames no man for his ill fortune. He raises no finger at his fellow beings as being the cause of his sorrows. He knows that the arbiter of his fortunes is Destiny. He, however, never uses Fate as an excuse for his own conduct. He owns himself responsible for all his actions and always endeavours that Truth prevails.

It is not that he is insensitive. It is not that he has no likes or dislikes. He recognises insult and injury. However, bathed in the light of wisdom, he never blames anyone for the ill that may befall him. The still waters of his mind are unruffled by the storms of adversity and undisturbed by the high winds of acclaim.

‘Not even a leaf stirs without the will of God’ – such aphorisms are not mere platitudes to be mouthed, but are practised by the true seeker in the midst of dire affliction, seeking the Divine Hand which moulds man’s fate.

A dispassionate observer

The clarity of his vision is unclouded by personal attachment. He is thus able to view the world and events with objectivity. He understands the working of the minds of his fellow men. He comprehends the flow and play of gunas and the predictions of men as they act in life.

It is ignorance, attachment and lack of faith which engender fear, doubt, internal strife and emotional turmoil. For the wise man the light of truth dispels the inner darkness which breeds inner travail and misery. The roller coaster ride of emotional highs and lows are for those who scoff at destiny and the Divine Will.

The sage is a spectator, fully aware of the Supreme Director who directs the cosmic play with its infinite pageantry, its multitudes of actors, its vast stage. Why should the spectator then be perturbed by the strife he sees on stage, the fleeting joys of the actors and the burdens of their misery?

However his knowledge, his realisation of the truth does not make him insensitive to others’ pain. He does not dismiss their affliction as part of a play. He reaches out in sympathy, and gives of his support and resources and strength. He is prompt and spontaneous in offering relief and succour. He will always strive to protect those around him from insults and injury. However when he himself is victimised, he is calm and unperturbed.

A perfect poise

When the intellect cleaves to the Truth, its equipoise cannot be disturbed. The whole life of such a sadhak becomes a living truth of his perfect inner poise. He flows in identification with the needs of others. He is wholly untouched by any adversity that comes his way. He considers himself a mere servant of his master, but his actions echo with the powerful resonance of the Lord’s name.
The path to such equipoise is one of faith illumined by Truth. As long as our intellects are burdened by attachment, we cannot transcend the dualities. We may delude ourselves that we are balanced and detached in times of prolonged good fortune. However such conditional calm can be shattered any instant by a blast of misfortune.

Thus we need to strengthen our intellect by developing our attachment to the Truth. As long as the mind and its vagaries hold dominance, we will be unable to step off the roller coaster of happiness and misery.

Path of Equipoise

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