When There is Chaos

Being calm and peaceful when everything is calm and peaceful has no meaning…. But when everything is falling apart, then being quiet and peaceful — that peace has value. A bottle of water has more worth in a desert than when you are sitting by a spring. When there is chaos, there is confusion; when there are problems all around you, then calmness is needed the most; wisdom is most valuable then. When people blame you, when they don’t understand you, that’s when you need the inner strength to smile. When things don’t go the way you want them to, that’s when you need the endurance, strength and courage to remain unperturbed. What brings that courage in you is exactly what Krishna said in the Gita: Samatvam yoga ucate (2.48). That equanimity is the test of your yoga. Gandhiji’s life companion, Kasturba Gandhi, was on her deathbed. Doctors had given up hope. They said, “Just a few hours or minutes — that’s it — for her to live.” At that time, Gandhiji came out of his kutir and told Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi, “Read that verse from Gita for me.” When he recited the Gita, Gandhiji said, “Today is your Bapu’s test. Today is my examination. I will know whether I will be able to handle the loss of Kasturba.” Just observe, how your mind goes, how it flares up, for nothing! How it creates a mess all around. One moment it’s high, another moment it’s down. Yoga is the answer for these psychological troubles. Yoga is the equanimity that wells up in you, that comes up in you, stabilises your consciousness.

Economic Times, 23/07/2019