Unaffectedness

                If you want to learn swimming, you have to go to deep waters for making your efforts.  The waters of sukha-duhkhas are, likewise, necessary for you to learn the art of indifference, cultivate the habit of impartiality.  Suppose you have learnt to swim, the presence of water does not become unnecessary.  You will want to swim now and then, thereby deriving the joy of swimming.  In the same way, the waters of sukha-duhkhas also act as a source of joy and elation, for one who has become an adept in practising indifference. 

                      Again, even a fast flowing river will not be able to drown one, who is well-versed in the art of swimming.  The same is the case with the jnanin as well, who has become proficient in the art of assuming indifference towards the sukha-duhkhas.  When faced with the fast current of the river, the swimmer's nature is to move his hands and feet faster, and somehow succeed in swimming to the shore.  The jnanin too will, likewise, exert his mind and buddhi more, when faced with unexpected and powerful sukha-duhkha currents, and thereby succeed in retaining the state of indifference intact.  His knowledge and practise will always save him from the danger of getting drowned in those sukha-duhkha currents, therefore, like waters for the swimmer, are always a help and a necessity.  Above all, they are ever a divine source of peacefulness and contentment, Santi and Samtripti.

To describe the practice in another manner, we must shift our attention from the sukha and the efforts to make it abide longer.  We should then pin it on the CENTRE between the sukha and duhkha.  That is to say, we must constantly try to withdraw ourselves from the thoughts of sukha-duhkhas, and try to remain unaffected, whenever; they emerge and pester us.  This unaffectedness is truly equanimity.  Only a dheera will have this quality. 

A dheera is one who lives and acts with clear vision, stability of purpose, and Self-seatedness.  In whatever he thinks and acts, these qualities, these traits, will become pronounced.  Equanimity will not come to you easily.  You have to understand what it is at first, and then exert yourself in the right way for gaining it.

Once the truth about sukha-duhkhas is known, all our agitations must cease forthwith.  For, after all, any one that lives on earth, with a body and senses, must and will derive sukha as well as duhkha, no matter whether he is rich or poor, healthy or weak, wise or foolish.  Why should we fret or fume then, for anything, at anything?  The right course for us is to take life easy at all times, by knowing what it is in truth, in essence.  A right knowledge of life will automatically put a stop to our incorrect sense of differentiation.  Let come what may.  Let not, what will not.

Harih Om Tat Sat. Jai Guru.