Main Section => Sai Baba Spiritual Discussion Room => Topic started by: SaiServant on December 08, 2008, 05:11:21 PM
Title: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: SaiServant on December 08, 2008, 05:11:21 PM
Dear Sai bandhus, Sai Ram! Please provide your valuable thoughts on something that puts me in a dilemma often: ???
Baba has asked us to avoid the company of athiests, wicked and irreligious people (Sai Satcharitra, Chapter 3). But, He also teaches us to see God in every living being and to love and serve everyone. I often face the dilemma of how should I handle people who show wickedness, irreligiosity or atheism. Though I would like to avoid such people, I remember Baba's teaching of seeing God in everyone and to love all. So when I entertain such people or when I avoid them, both ways I disobey Baba. I'll wait to hear your views on this concern.
Om Sai Ram!
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: sureshsarat on December 08, 2008, 06:57:15 PM
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Sai is in all beings. When we are at a stage where we can get easily influenced by other people, it is always better to avoid them but do it without hurting them and with no animosity. But when we are at a level where we can stay at equilibrium, it is easy for all to associate with all and yet go up our chosen path.
Sairam
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: SaiServant on December 09, 2008, 07:01:44 PM
Om Sai Ram!
Thanks, Sureshsarat ji. That sounds good. Yesterday, I came across some quotes on association with unvirtuous people. Just to share them:
" A root pest would eat away the roots of a tree and a white ant would eat away the tree itself. Similarly, a man of evil nature would bring about the ruin of a virtuous one" ---Satya Sai Baba.
"As your company, so you shall become" --Satya Sai Baba
"Associate with those who are good and true, not with those who are bad and false"---Buddha.
Even Baba would not allow people with bad thoughts to come near Him. He reformed them first before they could reach Him. Devotees like Megha, Saptnekar, Haji Phalke were driven away initially. And, others like the European gentleman could never approach Him. If the enlightened Master couldn't bear the mental waves or energy fields of those with unvirtuous thoughts, the disciples must remain ever cautious. I guess my dilemma is resolved. :)
Om Sai Ram!
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: sureshsarat on December 10, 2008, 01:40:23 AM
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
"Even Baba would not allow people with bad thoughts to come near Him. He reformed them first before they could reach Him. Devotees like Megha, Saptnekar, Haji Phalke were driven away initially. And, others like the European gentleman could never approach Him. If the enlightened Master couldn't bear the mental waves or energy fields of those with unvirtuous thoughts, the disciples must remain ever cautious. I guess my dilemma is resolved. "
I would like to differ on this. Baba reciprocated to exactly what was in the minds of the above devotees - namely distrust. This was more to make them realize their mistakes rather than keeping them away. And also a wonderful way of convincing them of his Omnipotence. A human's fickle mind looks for logic in everything and these doubting toms needed to be convinced in order to be set on the right path. Verily so, with us too. In fact it is baba who pulled the towards himself like sparrows with feet tied with strings.
There are many assertions by Lord Sai himself, where in he has stated : he was never known to be angry with anyone. He has also stated not to take the sense of doership and own up on responsibilities. He is the wirepuller.
And finally Lord Jesus in his parable about the Lost Son and forgiving father made it clear the the Lord welcomes the wayward son foremost to set him right.
If we are sure that the influence of others will not have affect on us, we need shy away from them. In fact, by putting faith and responsibility on our Lord to Guide us, we need not turn away the such dubious people. But at the same, we need not set out seeking them.
It would do good for the persons with little control over themselves to keep away from such people.
Finally, we need to bear in mind all the good and bad are in our mind. Whichever is predominant will determine our course of actions !
Sairam
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: SaiServant on December 10, 2008, 09:11:10 AM
Om Sai Ram!
Baba was God incarnate. His ability to read minds of people and to sense their subtle energies is something that none of us possesses. Many people who were pulled to Shirdi didn't necessarily become His devotees. Many of them left for good, and others lost faith after a while. Didn't Baba talk about the tree laden with blossoms and how only a few stayed to become fruits. That shows He was aware about the range of human imperfections and weaknesses, and not just their doubting attitude.
Baba would indeed become angry with some people, and would even beat them up. Though some may think that was His queerness, but in reality it was His innate ability to read their hidden thoughts and feelings. Anything that was unvirtuous would make Him react angrily. SSC is full of such episodes.
While the issue of 'influence' or 'self-control' could be true with regard to athiests and irreligious people, there are subtle and unseen influences that wicked peple emanate. My concern is more about the latter. Yes, the good and bad lie in our minds, but people send out energies, positive or negative, all the time. Those are unseen subtle fields that any sensitive soul can feel. Have you ever felt good just by sitting quietly in someone's presence or felt unhappy or uncomfortable with others. For instance, people would feel instant peace and bliss in Baba's company or at his mere sight. And, that even Baba talked about someone's evil eye once. The subtle ethreal or causal energies are simply imperceptible. But they have devastating effects on sensitive souls who come in contact with such energy fields.
I raised this issue because I have a couple of acquaintances with whom I generally have a good conversation. They fall in the categories that Baba has asked us to avoid. Our conversations revolve around general topics and never of the nature that can influence my habits or spirituality. Yet, every time I sit and chat with them, and once they are gone, I experience an intensely uneasy and deeply unsettling feeling. Not by what they said, but simply by being in their presence. I am not being judgmental, but intuitively understand that something is wrong somewhere. Though I cannot figure out what it is. Having understood the phenomena of energy fields, my dilemma was about Baba's injunction of seeing God in all. I guess the best option would be to avoid them, not to test my control or their level of influence on me that does not really play a part here.
I agree that Baba is the doer. Perhaps, He sends such people to test our obedience to what he wants us to do. I guess we need to use 'Viveka' (power of discrimination) not judgement in facing such situations. And, Viveka needs to be exercised at the level of energy fields as well.
Those are just some humble thoughts. I don't mean to assert myself or deny what you wrote. You indeed are right in a certain sense. :)
Om Sai Ram!
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: Ramesh Ramnani on December 10, 2008, 09:31:55 AM
जय सांई राम।।।
My dearest sister Sunita I don't know much about anything but what I learnt through BABA lies in only in one solution of all ills and that solution is hidden in one little word and that word is 'उपेक्षा' -'Upeksha' -Equanimity, or impartiality. The emotionally detached state of one who witnesses without becoming emotionally involved. It is a virtue, and an attitude to be cultivated as opposed to simple indifference or lack of interest. Upeksha is the fourth of the Divine Abidings (Brahma-vihāra) and seventh of the ‘Limbs of Enlightenment’
अपना सांई प्यारा सांई सबसे न्यारा अपना सांई
ॐ सांई राम।।।
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: SaiServant on December 10, 2008, 11:37:34 AM
Om Sai Ram!
Thank you , dearest Ramesh Bhai. You can see how bad a disciple I am :D. I remember that you taught me this concept of "Upeksha" once. Sureshsarat ji also hinted at this idea. Thanks to both of you. I'll understand this concept well, and try to implement it at the subtle plane. Though I seem to have developed it at a grosser level. So, you should not be disappointed with me completely. ;D
I'll get back to you with questions and seek clarifications, if any, as I try to cultivate this lovely sounding but difficult to attain quality called "Upeksha". May Baba help me in this endeavour. :)
Om Sai Ram!
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: saidasan on December 10, 2008, 02:50:53 PM
Om Sairam.
If you attract negative people, it’s a sign that there is negativity in you mostly Subconsciously as sanskara - impressions that influence/trigger a trait/emotion/reaction. Like attracts Like that’s why you attract them (unconsciously) and have a conversation. Subconcious Sanskaras cannot be identified easily as they are yet to be impressed firmly as a trait in the Conscious mind. So the conscious mind continues to remain unaffected by them. It's like a dormant volcano. Road rage is a good anecdote. Suddenly people become nasty for petite reasons in a moment. It’s an indication that you have to work on yourself and raise your Positive vibes and not worry about negative people. When you raise Positive Vibrations you will attract Positive people. Negative people will be kept away by Polarity mismatch. I met lot of negative people and some of them wasted plenty of my time. I had been involved in a few verbal road brawls too.
Surrender is the best way to cleanse our Soul from Negative impressions and vibrations. Surrender is a spontaneous praise of Sai for being Sai, it can be Meditation, Prayer, Singing, Dancing just anything. Even listening to Sai songs in Ipod :)
If we take SSC literally then we can conclude Sai attacked people, avoided some. In reality that defeats the whole mission of any Divine Manifestation because he is Universal not an individual. There are no others for Sai. Sai works in several planes Cosmic – controlling Nature, Universal – Saving the child from Fire in a remote village and getting his hands burnt, Physical – allowing devotees to Massage his legs, Subtle planes – SaptaShringi priest at once gained Peace that evaded him for quite sometime. Since we operate only on Physical and Mental plane, our inferences cannot be conclusive. SSC was certainly not intended to be like Ten Commandments. It's a Divine Symphony If any point of mine offended you, I seek Sai’s forgiveness. Jai Sairam.
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: ashokjain on December 10, 2008, 04:25:53 PM
Ravi sent me thread of this discussion and asked me if i could contribute. I was too busy to even go through the entire thread, however after reading SunitaJi's post, i felt i could share this link in which Sathya Sai replies to your question.
This is a very rare and 30 years old video (normally interviews are not filmed).
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: ashokjain on December 10, 2008, 04:29:27 PM
This is the 3rd and the last part of the interview with the earlier parts available too. This is just to provide information for someone who would be interested to watch the entire interview.
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: SaiServant on December 10, 2008, 07:11:17 PM
Om Sai Ram!
I am deeply indebted to my dear brothers for their enlightening posts. Thank you, and may Baba bless you.
Dear Saidasan ji, you have not offended me in any way. :) Rather, I find your thoughts right on the target. I agree that we have samskaras as impressions on the subconscious, which attract people with a matching energy. As much as I have developed awareness about my conscious self, there may be traces of negativity in my subconscious. As far as cleansing of the subconscious mind is concerned, complete surrender is indeed an effective tool. The Master throws up discomforting situations whereby the negativity is brought up to the surface, through interaction with people with undesired traits but in sync with the hidden samskaras. Surrender forms the substratum on which the quality of equanimity ('Upeksha') grows. Your thoughts on Baba and SSC are absolutely correct. Baba and His ways are indeed inscrutable and beyond our comprehension. So, I may have made an error in inferring from some incidents in SSC. However, I would like to add that despite the fact that Baba is beyond any form and name, keeping SSC as our main guide actually helps. That in no way means that we don't or can't read other masters, who happen to be the manifestations of the same divinity.
I extend my profound gratitude to Ashok ji for providing this wonderful interview of Satya Sai Baba. Though I have read some of his excellent works, I was delighted to hear him speak for the first time. Satya Sai Baba is an embodiment of love and wisdom. I greatly benefit from his teachings. It was my good fortune to see and hear the master. Thank you so much. :)
Om Sai Ram!
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: sureshsarat on December 10, 2008, 10:16:26 PM
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Sairam everybody !
Such discussions help us in further understanding Baba's unique ways ! In fact, I take this too as his unique method of teaching us ! Baba bless us ever like this !
Rameshji's "one solution of all ills and that solution is hidden in one little word and that word is 'उपेक्षा' -'Upeksha' -Equanimity, or impartiality’ is right on dot. The world around is is filled with negativity ! There is no denying it ! forgive me if I am wrong or hurt someone ! But the TVs, Newpapers and other beings are mostly sending out strong negativity. Though not all, but a greater percentage. We can not really avoid such occurences, acquaintances, or encounters. Imagine going to a movie and seeing some unwanted scenes like violence. The best way is "Rameshji's Upeksha". The very feeling that you have encountered something wrong is your conscience alerting you. Now just train you mind to block the influence. This can be done with chanting "Sai Sai " , meditating on him , singing aratis or anything.
Thanks to Sai for this great teaching Sairam
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: v2birit on December 11, 2008, 12:03:27 AM
Om Sai Ram, I read this post late, but when i read, i immediately recall that it happened with me also & it happens with all sadhakas (spiritual aspirants). As we progress spiritually, we become more & more sinless, knowledge & Vairagya starts accruing within. This is all due to the great Lord sitting within, who becomes dominant. When this happens, we are not able to tolerate the inconsistency in the surrounding world. We get cross with non-devotees who just don't want to surrender & talk of the Lord. At the same time, we get extremely pleased when we see some soul worshipping the Lord. No matter how much a sadhaka can get cross with the world, due to it's non-devotion, but the heartening fact is that the Lord is always behind the Sadhaka & takes him safely across the ocean of worldly existence.
Om Sai Ram.
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: SaiServant on December 11, 2008, 12:11:52 AM
Om Sai Ram!
The negativity can be both outside and inside us. While the outer negativity can be tackled through the practice of Upeksha, the inner negativity needs to be confronted head on and removed by deliberate effort. While we can identify and clear away the negativity at the conscious mental plane by changing our attitude through following Baba's instructions, the unconscious or subconscious negativity is the hardest to detect and remove. Chanting of Sai's name, surrender and prayers can cleanse our inner world and offer immunity to the outer onslaughts of negativity to some extent. But, the practice of Upeksha is the real antidote to the toxic influences of the outer world.
After I read and reflected upon dearest Ramesh Bhai's concept of "Upeksha", I conducted a small experiment. I went to see one of the acquaintances whose presence used to disturb my inner peace. I wanted to put Upeksha to test. I spent two hours with her and applied the mental frame of equanimity consciously. I indeed was able to maintain my tranquility throughout the conversation and ever since I returned home. It does work. But, it will require more and more practice till it is perfected. Thank you for your guidance, Ramesh Bhai. :)
I posted an article on Upeksha under "philosophy and spirituality" earlier today. Please post more on that topic.
Victory be to Sai!
Om Sai Ram!
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: SaiServant on December 11, 2008, 12:52:34 AM
Om Sai Ram!
Very well said, v2birit ji. You are right that Baba is the real doer and our saviour. We must take refuge under his lotus feet and surrender completely . He will save us from all the negativity by inspiring us in the right direction. May Baba keep his loving gaze on us always!
Om Sai Ram!
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: saidasan on December 11, 2008, 02:05:30 AM
"I conducted a small experiment. I went to see one of the acquaintances whose presence used to disturb my inner peace. I wanted to put Upeksha to test. I spent two hours with her and applied the mental frame of equanimity consciously."
All evaluation creates Conflict in the Mind, Which will strengthen the Mind. Evaluation is a candy for Mind to Chew. I feel sorry to quote this anecdote,. The worlds most popular Female Pop-singer recently announced through a press conference that she turned to Kabbalah Faith after trying ‘N’ number of religions and is now asking her friends to Convert. In reality, she is unconsciously trying to be different from others because she seeks an identity from her Act. I don’t know it can be called as Positive Ego :)
SSC Says whatever we do we must offer it to Sai first. Offer your ‘tests and evaluations’ to Sai. Whole-heartedly believe Sai wants to evaluate this person through me, if some negativity springs up about the other then whole-heartedly believe Sai is responsible. At some point, all these evaluations and tests will stop and Upeksha will begin to happen. Human minds are brittle in front of Sai. We can use Surrender in our daily lives too. If you hit your toe in the Cot when you move around, truly believe Sai wanted me to feel the Pain. This Partial surrender will help us to reach True surrender by Sai’s Grace. Jai Sairam.
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: ashokjain on December 11, 2008, 02:25:34 AM
Got some time to read the thread. Really good thoughts.
I have something to add to it.
If human beings were plotted in a graph with respect to their spiritual level, it will be a never ending line and we will find ourselves somewhere in between. As we are a mixture of opposites in varying quantities, it is important to focus more on our development rather than judging people. Just as we cannot judge a book by its cover, we cannot label someone being evil or having bad qualities by limited interactions of ours with them. Besides we are no one to judge as we are in the middle of the line and not in the front of the queue. As Sathya Sai Baba said in the above video that people change over time.
According to Jesus it is like judging people and which is not justified untill we are the purest form. Buddhishm advises a "Maitri Bhav" which is like feeling of friendship or brotherhood to all creatures. Mahavira has talked about Karuna, compassion towards one and all. It doesnot matter if someone talks ill about you or treat you badly,
We cannot stop rain and it is no use either to curse it, we cannot ignore it also, we have to use an umbrella instead before we go out.
Sai Baba has recommended love towards one and all. Love which is highest form of non-injury to all living beings. Jainism expounds so much about compassion and lays so much emphasis on non-injury to one and all.
Upeksha as i understand from my knowledge is like disregard or ignore and one would never like to be treated with a upeksha bhav if one visits someone's house. The proper term as i understand would be "Sam bhav" which is treating all situations and people with equal regard. Though words are just empty vessels which do not feed anyone. It really does not matter in broader sense.
Intellectual discussions are one thing and practicing them is an altogether different proposition. As the feeling of "love", "maitri", "karuna" seep in our consciousness, it also starts reflecting in our daily interactions and our mode of living too. When there is regard and love for all forms of Life, being vegetarian is so natural too.
Love is the highest symbol of God as told by Sathya Sai Baba. This is the best way of treating all living beings in this world. :)
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: sureshsarat on December 11, 2008, 03:47:38 AM
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
"Upeksha as i understand from my knowledge is like disregard or ignore and one would never like to be treated with a upeksha bhav if one visits someone's house. The proper term as i understand would be "Sam bhav" which is treating all situations and people with equal regard. Though words are just empty vessels which do not feed anyone. It really does not matter in broader sense. "
Upeksha means equanimity. It means to take the rough with the smooth.
Upeksha might mean "to ignore" in hindi. And definitely no one would like to be ignored. But again, Rameshji's explanation was very clear. By maintaining equanimity we are not to be swayed by the "good act " or the "bad act". Even taking the meaning in the distorted form of "ignoring" it is the person's acts and words we ignore and not the person. Even this ignore is not by turning a deaf ear or a blind eye, but we do not get influenced by these deeds. Our mind will not ponder on this the next moment.
Words of saints are highly potent and beyond comprehension of normal mortals. And when such words are Baba's, we should realize that they have different meanings to different people. Sairam
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: SaiServant on December 11, 2008, 06:24:38 AM
Om Sai Ram!
Thank you, dear brothers :). I would like to clarify something. I don't understand upeksha as evaluting, judging or ignoring the other. For me Upeksha or equanimity is developing an inner balance and the ability to stay on keel amidst all happenings around you. When I went to see this person the idea was not to evaluate, ignore or disregard her. But to see how balanced and calm I could remain in an energy field that disturbed me earlier. It was Baba testing me, not my ego evaluting the other person. The Master within wanted to see how calm and unaffected could I remain in an adverse circumstance. So, what did I do there? Was I judging or ignoring her mentally? Obviously not. I merely changed my perspactive to look at her. I became more accepting of her and surrendered to the situation. For me, upeksha is acceptance, not a negative yardstick or positive ego. As I mentioned earlier, I need to stay in this frame of mind deliberately in order to arrive at a stage when it becomes my second nature. By becoming aware that I tend to lose my inner balance (read 'peace'), the first step is taken. I was rather surprised that I actually felt love for the person by this act of acceptance. In the sense that there was no resistance or contraction of my mind or heart in her presence. Rather, my total acceptance of the situation and the person as she is.
However, the journey is a challenging one. I pray that Baba helps in attaining the centeredness that we may call by any name, yet which brings about the inner equilibrium in a world full of negativities.
May Baba bless us.
Om Sai Ram!
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: ashokjain on December 11, 2008, 06:44:25 AM
Words can have different meanings. They are just like symbols. As Sathya Sai Baba said that you can visualize God as a form of Light, you can try to seek him in an image, seem him in sun or moon or a cross etc.
As i come from northern india and as i understand upeksha, it can also mean "tiraskar" which is like disrespect to someone. Now if someone interprets upeksha in positive sense, it is all fine because the words are just like symbols and are just tools and not the end in themselves. I just told the dictionary meaning and probably the current usage of the word could have changed its meaning.
Words are not the ultimate truths, they just point to the truth and so there is no point getting entangled in them. Whether one calls it upeksha or "maitri" or "karuna" or "love" while living in perfect harmony with all living beings, it is perfectly fine.
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: Kavitaparna on December 11, 2008, 09:13:56 PM
OM SRI SAI RAM
It is our own mental attitude which makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful. Our thoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds. Learn to see things in the proper light - Swami Vivekananda.
Sunita dear, you have made me stay logged in the forum probably after a long gap. I am not well read / nor a critic / do not know application of logic or laws nor capable of arguments / analysis. But, I would like share the little that I have been made to know by grace of Baba by experience .... just by mere personal experience alone in this life of mine.
Dear, It is my personal experience that there are NO bad people or Good people nor there is something good / bad in God’s creation. Everything - gross / subtle / cause - all the three has to be treated as “acceptable” as it is cuz, it is creation by God.
There is nothing called “negative or “positive” in God’s creation. It is our attitude that decides something to be negative or positive according to our convenience / requirements that are subject to change every second. God does not have to pull / push one from /to negative or positive for, no such discrimination exists for him. By terming something negative / positive it is our mind / ego that gets closer to some one / some habit or part. Analysis / logic…. everything has to lose its entity when it comes to God’s creation. That is only adwaita. There is no duality. As long as duality exists we are in the state of Guru and Shishya. Once this screen of duality disappears, Guru is me. It is for that purpose we are all pulled to Sai’s feet. Only the Jnani experiences while the sadhakas try to experience it by practicing to the extent possible and they become one with the guru once they don’t have to practice but automatically start to experience these facts.
Jai Sai Ram
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: SaiServant on December 12, 2008, 07:24:02 AM
Dear Kavita Didi, Sai Ram!
I'm really delighted to see you back on our blessed forum. We have missed your presence much. Please stay on and continue to guide us in our growth. I have no words to express my gratitude at reading your response. Thank you so much for your wonderful words. The fact that you write from your experience makes it all the more special for me.
I agree that everything lies in the mind. That is why Baba and other masters teach us the philosophy of Adwaita, which you sum up so well. However, it is one thing to read or believe in such a philosophy, but entirely a different thing to practice it till it becomes an effortless part of our experience. There are moments when non-duality comes to me naturally, but on other occasions I fail miserably :-[. That is why I qualify as a Sadhaka still separate from the Guru. Please pray that Baba helps me break this wall of separation that keeps us separate from Him and His creation.
I'll be grateful if you stay with us. You are our precious sister, and I truly miss you. :)
Love and regards, Om Sai Ram!
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: sureshsarat on December 12, 2008, 07:29:34 PM
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
The Universe is one. Everything in it is Oneness. It is the "I" - the ego brought about with our so called "knowledge" which sets us apart and see this Universe in differently, making it different to all. Humbleness and the the process of unlearning of this "knowledge" (removing ignorance) shall lead us to non duality. When the "I" is lost there is no difference !
So could this be implemented in a practical manner ? If a separate thread is started and contributions made, it would be an wonderful learning / unlearning process
Sairam
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: SaiServant on December 13, 2008, 07:36:36 PM
Om Sai Ram!
Thanks much for your enlightening words, dear Suresh Bhai. I request that you start the separate thread, and help us in the process of learning and unlearning . We all will join in the effort. May Baba bless us. :)
Om Sai Ram!
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: Ramesh Ramnani on July 18, 2009, 11:54:02 PM
Thank you , dearest Ramesh Bhai. You can see how bad a disciple I am :D. I remember that you taught me this concept of "Upeksha" once. Sureshsarat ji also hinted at this idea. Thanks to both of you. I'll understand this concept well, and try to implement it at the subtle plane. Though I seem to have developed it at a grosser level. So, you should not be disappointed with me completely. ;D
I'll get back to you with questions and seek clarifications, if any, as I try to cultivate this lovely sounding but difficult to attain quality called "Upeksha". May Baba help me in this endeavour. :)
Om Sai Ram!
जय सांई राम।।।
Contemplat on one of the Sublime States of Self
Equanimity (upekkha)
Equanimity is a perfect, unshakable balance of mind, rooted in insight.
Looking at the world around us, and looking into our own heart, we see clearly how difficult it is to attain and maintain balance of mind.
Looking into life we notice how it continually moves between contrasts: rise and fall, success and failure, loss and gain, honour and blame. We feel how our heart responds to all this happiness and sorrow, delight and despair, disappointment and satisfaction, hope and fear. These waves of emotion carry us up and fling us down; and no sooner do we find rest, than we are in the power of a new wave again. How can we expect to get a footing on the crest of the waves? How shall we erect the building of our lives in the midst of this ever restless ocean of existence, if not on the Island of Equanimity.
A world where that little share of happiness alloted to beings is mostly secured after many disappointments, failures and defeats; a world where only the courage to start anew, again and again, promises success; a world where scanty joy grows amidst sickness, separation and death; a world where beings who were a short while ago connected with us by sympathetic joy, are at the next moment in want of our compassion - such a world needs equanimity.
But the kind of equanimity required has to be based on vigilant presence of mind, not on indifferent dullness. It has to be the result of hard, deliberate training, not the casual outcome of a passing mood. But equanimity would not deserve its name if it had to be produced by exertion again and again. In such a case it would surely be weakened and finally defeated by the vicissitudes of life. True equanimity, however, should be able to meet all these severe tests and to regenerate its strength from sources within. It will possess this power of resistance and self-renewal only if it is rooted in insight.
What, now, is the nature of that insight? It is the clear understanding of how all these vicissitudes of life originate, and of our own true nature. We have to understand that the various experiences we undergo result from our kamma - our actions in thought, word and deed - performed in this life and in earlier lives. Kamma is the womb from which we spring (kamma-yoni), and whether we like it or not, we are the inalienable "owners" of our deeds (kamma-saka). But as soon as we have performed any action, our control over it is lost: it forever remains with us and inevitably returns to us as our due heritage (kamma-dayada). Nothing that happens to us comes from an "outer" hostile world foreign to ourselves; everything is the outcome or our own mind and deeds. Because this knowledge frees us from fear, it is the first basis of equanimity. When, in everything that befalls us we only meet ourselves, why should we fear?
If, however, fear and uncertainty should arise, we know the refuge where it can be allayed: our good deeds (kamma-patisarana). By taking this refuge, confidence and courage will grow within us - confidence in the protecting power of our good deeds done in the past; courage to perform more good deeds right now, despite the discouraging hardships of our present life. For we know that noble and selfless deeds provide the best defence against the hard blows of destiny, that it is never too late but always the right time for good actions. If that refuge, in doing good and avoiding evil, becomes firmly established within us, one day we shall feel assured: "More and more ceases the misery and evil rooted in the past. And this present life - I try to make it spotless and pure. What else can the future bring than increase of the good?" And from that certainty our minds will become serene, and we shall gain the strength of patience of equanimity to bear with all our present adversities. Then our deeds will be our friends (kamma-bandhu).
.....To be continued
अपना सांई प्यारा सांई सबसे न्यारा अपना सांई
ॐ सांई राम।।।
Title: Re: Kindly Help me Understand.
Post by: Ramesh Ramnani on July 24, 2009, 11:09:17 AM
ॐ सांई राम।।।
जय सांई राम।।।
Concluding part......
Likewise, all the various events of our lives, being the result of our deeds, will also be our friends, even if they bring us sorrow and pain. Our deeds return to us in a guise that often makes them unrecognizable. Sometimes our actions return to us in the way that others treat us, some-times as a thorough upheaval in our lives; often the results are against our expectations or contrary to our wills. Such experiences point out to us consequences of our deeds we did not foresee; they render visible half-conscious motives of our former actions which we tried to hide even from ourselves, covering them up with various pretexts. If we learn to see things from this angle, and to read the messages conveyed by our own experience, then suffering, too, will be our friend. It will be a stern friend, but a truthful and well-meaning one who teaches us the most difficult subject, knowledge about ourselves, and warns us against abysses towards which we are moving blindly. By looking at suffering as our teacher and friend, we shall better succeed in enduring it with equa-nimity.
Consequently, the teaching of kamma will give us a powerful impulse for freeing ourselves from kamma, from those deeds which again and again throw us into the suffering of repeated births. Disgust will arise at our own craving, at our own delusion, at our own propen-sity to create situations which try our strength, our resistance, and our equanimity.
The second insight on which equanimity should be based is the Buddha's teaching of no-self (anatta). This doctrine shows that in the ultimate sense deeds are not performed by any self, nor do their results affect any self. Further, it shows that if there is no self, we cannot speak of "my own". It is the delusion of a self that creates suffering and hin-ders or disturbs equanimity. If this or that quality of ours is blamed, one thinks: "I am blamed" and equanimity is shaken. If this or that work does not succeed, one thinks: "My work has failed and equanimity is shaken. If wealth or loved ones are lost, one thinks: "What is mine has gone" and equanimity is shaken.
To establish equanimity as an unshakable state of mind, one has to give up all possessive thoughts of "mine", beginning with little things from which it is easy to detach oneself, and gradually working up to possessions and aims to which one's whole heart clings. One also has to give up the counterpart to such thoughts, all egoistic thoughts of "self'", beginning with a small section of one's personality, with qualities of minor importance, with small weaknesses one clearly sees, and gradually working up to those emotions and aversions which one regards as the centre of one's being. Thus detachment should be practised.
To the degree we forsake thoughts of "mine" or "self"' equanimity will enter our hearts. For how can anything we realize to be foreign and void of a self cause us agitation due to lust, hatred or grief? Thus the teaching of non-self will be our guide on the path to deliverance, to per-fect equanimity.
Equanimity is the crown and culmination of the four sublime states. But this should not be understood to mean that equanimity is the nega-tion of love, compassion, and sympathetic joy, or that it leaves them behind as inferior. Far from that, equanimity includes and pervades them fully, just as they fully pervade perfect equanimity.
“The real meaning of upekkha is equanimity, not indifference in the sense of unconcern for others. As a spiritual virtue, upekkha means equanimity in the face of the fluctuations of worldly fortune. It is evenness of mind, unshakeable freedom of mind, a state of inner equipoise that cannot be upset by gain and loss, honor and dishonor, praise and blame, pleasure and pain. Upekkha is freedom from all points of self-reference; it is indifference only to the demands of the ego-self with its craving for pleasure and position, not to the well-being of one's fellow human beings. True equanimity is the pinnacle of the four social attitudes that the Buddhist texts call the 'divine abodes': boundless loving-kindness, compassion, altruistic joy, and equanimity. The last does not override and negate the preceding three, but perfects and consummates them.”