Equanimity, according to Google is: “mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.“
Navigating the world of dual opposites, we often find it challenging to find or maintain that equanimity in our interactions. “Bad” things or people irk us. “Good” things or people make us happy. Our normal response is like the events we experience, quite the play of dual opposites.
This is what makes us lose our peace, our calm, our steady center.
Stories of the realized masters and sages are often inspiring, because they point us to something we could practice and be.
Here’s an incident that occurred in the ashram of the great sage Ramana Maharshi:
In June 1924, thieves entered the Ashram and not only harassed the devotees, but also beat Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi on his thigh.
Subsequently, while relating amongst themselves the thrashing they had received, the devotees said, “Bad fellows,they beat even Bhagavan!”
Bhagavan is reported to have said, “Oh, you all worship me with flowers and they worshipped me with a stick. That is also a form of worship. If I accept yours, should I not accept theirs as well?”
Real Equanimity!
Feeling separate, as a unique I-dentity, equanimity is something we can aspire to practice. We can learn to stay in our peace, not getting pulled away from that calm center.
However, in realizing our real nature, in abiding as True Self, equanimity is the natural expression of the unchanging peace that is True Self.
Love
Sundar.
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* Check out the book, “What is Enlightenment? A Simple Guide” – it brings you clarity on preparatory practices vs direct paths to Enlightenment.
* Available now, “Awaken: An Experiential Exploration of Enlightenment” – this book guides you on the direct path of Self-Inquiry, to the experiential realization of Reality, your true nature.