56 - Towards Equanimity and a Friendly Mind | Swami Tattwamayananda

- 6th chapter: verses 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on October 9, 2020.- 6th verse: “The positive aspect of mind, that is linked to Buddhi and Atman – that mind is our friend. The uncontrolled mind, that is away from spiritual values, acts as if it is our own worst enemy.”- Mind is our friend when it instinctively guides us on the spiritual path and gives us warning signals when undesirable thoughts emerge. Such a mind has conquered the lower self, is restrained and is linked to the higher self.- The mind which has moved us away from our natural tendency to do what is good for us, is under the power of the lower self, and creates stumbling blocks when we want to implement a change for the good – such a mind is our enemy.- If we cannot direct the mind to spiritual values, we should direct it to other higher values such as music, culture and philosophy. This keeps the mind properly employed and away from harmful channels.- 7th verse: “A person who has reached the stage of Yoga-ārūḍha is self-controlled, is constantly focused on the Atman, and is established in inner peace and poise. For him heat/cold, pain/pleasure, honor/dishonor are the same.”- A Yoga-ārūḍha has renounced his ego, desires, and all his sankalpas. He has given up all kinds of identification with actions and their results.- We cannot suddenly decide to have equanimity of mind. It is developed gradually by focusing on a higher transcendental ideal. If we guard ourselves from being over-joyed in pleasant situations, then we can prevent ourselves from being grief-stricken in painful situations.- A Yoga-ārūḍha experiences Prashanta – absolute peace and inner tranquility – because his mind is identified with Paramatma. His Antahkarana becomes calm and quiet because of mergence with Paramatma. His mind functions as God/Guru, sitting within and guiding him.- The external characteristics of a Yoga-ārūḍha are: (1) he is self-restrained (2) he is contented (3) his presence gives contentment to those around him.- 8th verse: “Such a Yoga-ārūḍha is free from desires and attachment to sense objects, is equanimous in his outlook, and experiences tremendous feeling of contentment. Not only has he understood the truth but also, he has realized the truth. He is unmoved and undisturbed, because his senses are in control. To him - a lump of earth, a stone, and gold are of equal value.”- Sri Ramakrishna had this equanimous outlook – to him gold and mud were the same. King Janaka remained poised when someone reported to him that his city was burning. They both identified their real “I” as Atman.- 9th verse: “A Yoga-ārūḍha looks upon people with a higher spiritual perspective. He looks with equal regard upon a well-wisher, a friend, an enemy, one neutral to him, one who does not take any side, one who acts against him, a relative, a righteous person, and an unrighteous person.”- This verse represents different attitudes of human nature. Mind changes its attitude depending on who we interact with. A Yoga-ārūḍha is equipoised in all such situations. He attains this state by feeding his mind with great spiritual ideas and lifting his mind to higher levels of consciousness.- There are two ways we can look upon the world. If we look at it through the lens of the world, we experience plurality and won’t have peace of mind. If we look upon it through the lens of God, then we can practice equilibrium of mind, and the world won’t disturb us.- 10th verse: “A person who wants to be Yogi should constantly practice concentration and develop a natural tendency to live in solitude.”- Solitude is natural for the spiritually evolved, but dangerous for those who are not ready. Out of solitude comes the strength to work in public. In solitude, we accumulate spiritual wealth that we can distribute to people. A beginner should not force himself to be in solitude – he should develop the desire naturally by practicing spiritual practices such as karma-yoga.