B for Balance

 The Bhagavad Gita is a treasure trove of knowledge - all that you need to be is an inquisitive student, because only when the student is ready, the master appears! Join me this month in the 'April A to Z challenge,' as I take you through selected verses of this monumental scripture, and try to decipher the amazing lessons it has in store for us.     

Read A for Attachment here. 

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Translation

In this verse, Krishna asks us to stay equipoised or balanced in every situation in life. Having a balanced approach in happiness (sukha) and grief (dukha), pleasant (priya) and unpleasant (apriya) situations, praise (stuthi) and criticism (ninda) , honour (maana) and dishonour (apamana), and treating friend (mitr) and foe (ari) alike,  helps us rise above the agitation of the mind.

                                                                            

Have you observed how the human mind reacts to situations and circumstances? 

When we are happy, or in a favourable situation, or when we are rewarded, or appreciated, we cannot contain our excitement. But if we are in an unfavourable situation, or we are criticised or in grief, our world comes crashing down. Our mood swings from one extreme to the other influenced by our environment.

Everything is cyclic in nature.

Krishna tells us that loss and gain, happiness and grief, praise and criticism and such dualities are sides of the same coin. They are also cyclic in nature, meaning they follow one after another – nothing lasts forever. Happiness does not last forever, neither does grief.

Imagine, if we were served only sweet dishes at lunch, we’d not only tire of it soon but would also not be able to appreciate the taste of sweetness. Just like a good balance of sweet and savoury makes for a fulfilling meal, a healthy balance of good and bad makes for a fulfilling life.   

                                                                              

A story from the Ramayana.

In the Ramayana, Shri Rama shows by his own example how one can maintain a balance in our emotions.

The entire city of Ayodhya had been buzzing with festivities. King Dasharatha had just announced the coronation of his eldest son, Rama, and the subjects could not wait to see him as their new King. The beating of all kinds of drums, blowing of conches and playing of cymbals added to the festive mood. The entire city was decked up like a bride – fresh flowers, mango leaves toran and colourful rangolis lined the streets.

The happiness around, however, did not affect Rama at all. He continued to be his calm self, situated in his yogic state. He was merely carrying out his duties as a son, and sharing his father’s responsibilities. While the excited subjects could not sleep a wink waiting for the night to pass, it was like any other night to Rama.

The next morning dawned soon but brought a news that left the entire city grief-stricken. Rama had been banished to the forest for fourteen years by his stepmother. He had been ordered to leave immediately. The calm on Rama’s face remained as it was the previous day. The news of banishment did not agitate him at all. He bore no ill-will towards his stepmother. All around him, he saw people drowning in a sea of grief, but to Rama, it was just another duty – an order that had to be carried.

Neither happiness nor grief affected Rama. He neither let the joy of coronation affect him nor the grief of banishment.

                                                                              

Is it possible to stay balanced?  

Rama's example shows us how nothing can affect the one who is balanced in his mind. Finding this delicate balance is difficult, though not impossible. What do you think?   

                                                                                          

Read C for Compassion here.