Equanimity of temper

In life we sometimes get what we desire. Sometimes, we end up having something we certainly do not want. But the man who has understood the nature of the atma and of the operation of karma is indifferent to everything in this world. He is not overjoyed by some event, nor moved to sorrow by another. He remains calm, whatever experience he has in life.

Naturally, the question now arises whether one should never delight in anything. Suppose someone’s child has scored high marks in an examination, should she not be happy? If a man loses all his wealth, should he not mourn his loss? The answer would be that whether it is the success of his child in an examination, or loss of wealth- it is all due to past karma.

The success was determined in accordance with karma and so it came to her child. The loss of wealth was also pre-determined, because of past karma. So why should one celebrate success or worry over loss? They are the results of one’s own actions in previous births. Moreover there is nothing that is universally liked by everyone, said Valayapet Ramachariar, in a discourse.

What one man likes may not be to the taste of another. The same person may also have different attitudes towards an object or towards another person at different times. Suppose someone dear to us is ill. We have enough affection and regard for the person to feel his absence, if he were to depart from this world.

And yet sometimes we think that exit from this world would be better for him than all that suffering. So here we have the same person responding in two different ways on two different occasions. So our reactions to worldly possessions and towards people are impermanent.

The atma is undying and its connection to the Supreme One is what we must constantly think of, aiming for moksha. While on this earth, we must face whatever our karma places in our life with equanimity of temper.