Equanimity
Sage Patanjali also interpreted solutions for those who are not
practising yoga. Even if you are not a yogi and not aware of yoga, you can
achieve equanimity of the mind and lead a cheerful life.
Sage Patanjali Yoga Sutra in 1st Chapter verse 33rd says that,
maitreekarunamuditopekshanan
sukhaduhkhapunyapunyavishayanan
bhavana tash citta prasadanam
Maitri (friendliness towards those who are at ease with themselves), Karuna (mercy and compassion towards the sufferers), Mudita (joy and cheerfulness towards the virtuous minds), Upeksha (neutrality, equanimity, avoidance and indifference towards the non-virtuous minds), Sukha (happy and pleasantness), Dukkha (sorrow and unpleasantness), Punya (virtue), Apunya (vice or evil) Bhavanatash Chitta prasadanam (can bring pacification of the Chitta).
The mind gets clear and pleasant through the feelings of Maitri (friendliness towards those who are at ease with themselves), Karuna (mercy and compassion towards the sufferers), Mudita (joy and cheerfulness towards the virtuous minds), Upeksha (neutrality, equanimity, avoidance and indifference towards the non-virtuous minds) towards the objects of Sukha (happy and pleasantness), dukkha (sorrow and unpleasantness), virtue (Punya) and vice or evil (apunya) and chittaprasadanam can bring pacification of the Chitta. The Virtues of our mind are Maitri, karuna, mudita upaksha and Chitta prasadanam which will help us to pacify the Chitta. These are the gifts given to us. Unfortunately, people do not know how to utilize these gifts, we have inherited these by birth as human beings. We are not utilizing these features in our daily life. It is like a cell phone that we purchase for more price because of good features and additional tools embedded in it. If we don't use those features and tools and only use them for making phone calls, then it is a wastage of the utility and you are not utilizing it properly. Likewise, the same thing is with us in human life. We got utilities, features and tools to tackle predicaments in our life. So what Patanjali explain is the virtues of the mind like Maitri, karuna, mudita, upeksha and Chitta prasadanam will help us in tackling the afflictions of our life. We have to clarify and fortify our understanding of how our mind behaves. We should not be the victim of our own minds and the mind is our servant.
There are four categories of people in the world. The first category is "Sukhi", which means those who are happy. The second category is sad and suffering people. Third
is those who are donors and are doing good deeds and helping others. The fourth Category is sinners and they are giving problems and hard times to others people all the time. So
these are four types of people we are dealing with in our life. We could also be
among these four categories of people. In whatever category you are, if you want
to cultivate peace of mind and how to deal with these four categories of people is important.
The first is 'Maitri' or friendliness and you should be friendly
with good and happy people. If those are happy people and you are friends with
happy people, you will also have happiness. If you have friendships with wicked
people you will have trouble. If they are creating trouble for everybody, then
you cannot be an exception also. Even if you are wicked you should be in the
company of good people, so that at least you start receiving goodliness from
good people. This is Maitri or friendliness. The second is 'karuna' or compassion
towards those who are "Dukhi" (sufferers) and those who are suffering. The sufferings
are of many kinds and they may be financial or physical. Some people do not even have
proper food to eat, a place to sleep and do not have proper clothing. These are the basic needs they are deprived of. We should have compassion towards them.
Or somebody who has recently got a very deep sorrow in life and we go for
condolences. Now condolence meetings have become just a formality. People do not
care about the poor and the sufferer. People are getting more and more selfish
to each other and this is a more problematic situation. So when
you are going for condolence and let it not be a formality. We must help the needy and downtrodden through your kindness and compassion. It is the responsibility of our society to help the suffering people.
If you are capable of helping the poor, you can be helped. These will again
bring peace and kindness in your life and will automatically bring kindness in
you and is a very powerful tool. In America, there is a powerful organization
called “Joy of Giving”. But unfortunately right from childhood, we have been
taught that we are born to take from the world. We haven't been taught that we should also give to others.
When parents are taking children to the place of worship they offer money into
the donation box and give the money to the hands of the child who gives that
donation in the donation box. If we have learned that joy when we're putting
even one coin that we are giving, we start learning that we must help
others. Otherwise, it is very difficult to even rich people and millionaire people
cannot even spare one time. That's a big reality of life and that is why we are facing more and more tragedy and pain in this world today. So here, is what Sage Patanjali explains about Maitri
and Karuna. Karuna means compassion towards the sufferer or "Dhukhi". So first is
friendliness towards the happy and joyful people and the other is compassion towards the
sufferer. Now the third is "Mudita" means joy, happiness and
expansion of your bliss towards kind people who are helping others. To
those who are donating something and taking care of others. We should be happy
towards those happy people which is very difficult. If somebody is happy you
become happy is a very difficult task. In others happy, if you are happy
then you start the transformation within yourself. Fourth is "Upeksha" is ignorance
and does not give space to those in your mind. Even if they have done something
wrong towards you and apologize to them. If they are bad people and are sinners and
creating troubles, do not give them space in your mind is more important. So,
these are the four types of good deeds and this will cultivate immense peace and
freedom from all mess in our minds. Another thing is the feeling of hatred
towards those people who have done injustice to other people. Do not take
the space of your mind and delete all the unwanted files from your memory. For
example, somebody or a politician is doing bad with some people and you are
watching the news and you got disturbed. According to Yoga Sutra, it is not
tenable. You do not start expecting anything from other people and nobody can
fulfil your wish.
So these four "Maitri", "Karuna", "Mudita" and "Upeksha" are the virtues
of the mind, which lead to Pleasantness of mind or "Chitta Prasadanam" are the
blessings we receive in our life. Further, this is something everybody wants to
keep their life pure and serene. According to Sage Patanjali, if you follow
these four things, you will have immense peace, joy and happiness and can
continue your life journey. So this is called ("Equanimity of Mind") “Chitta Prasadanam”.