Balanced Disposition

Equanimity is an attractive ideal, not necessarily for the spirituality inclined alone,though it is a mandatory spring board for spiritual betterment.The Lord's chosen epithet Stitaprajna aptly describes the state of mind,wisdom,attitude and total personality of the person with equanimity.

Arjuna was keen to know the characterstics of such a person.How would he talk and behave,he asked the Lord.Balance, equipoise, a self-realised state of mind that sees and revels only in the truth-are the characteristics.There is no hankering after worldly desires,hence with no urge to fulfill desires;he remains unperturbed even in the face of harsh misery.One who chases worldly desires faces anger,disappointment etc.when the efforts are thwarted.

With no attachment to people,objects,places etc,there is no fear or anger in all his dealings.The upheavals of life are accepted in a neutral manner-neither welcoming the good nor shunning the evil.He is able to withdraw his senses from the sense objects and trains his mind not to long for the temporary pleasures the sense objects are capable of giving.

Lord Rama exemplifies the profound implications of a Stitaprajna when His coronation was confirmed and cancelled in haste.He did not show any disappointment or joy at both instances.He accepted what came his way in a matter of fact manner.He merely did the needful at the moment and prepared to depart to the forest adopting the lifestyle of a hermit dweller.He neither showed anger at what was a great injustice.Was He not the crown prince and legitimate heir to the throne?.What wrong had He done to undergo this sudden change in fortune?.His commitment to truth and His eagerness to keep His father's word remained high in his priority.

Lord Krishna explains the Pravritti and Nivritti paths.These refer to the Karma and Sanyasa paths.The former pertains to the ordained duties of a human being from birth to death.The latter pertains to those acts that have to be relinquished and those to be upheld for salvation from the cycle of birth.

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