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, the strength and courage to remain unperturbed. What brings that courage in you is exactly what Krishna said in the Gita, in chapter 2, verse 48: Samatvam yoga ucate — equanimity is the test of your yoga.
There is an incident about Mohandas Gandhi. Gandhiji’s life companion, Kasturba Gandhi, was on her deathbed. Doctors had given up hope. They said, “Just a few hours or minutes — for her to live.” At that time, Gandhiji came out of his kutir and told Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi, “Read that verse from the Gita for me.” When he recited the verse, 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.” As he was saying this, tears rolled down his eyes. “Whether I am equanimous or not, today is the testing day.” Yoga brings that balance, so that an event doesn’t shatter you.
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. Samatvam yoga ucate. Yoga is the equanimity that wells up in you, that comes up in you, stabilises your consciousness.
Written by: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Courtesy: Economic Times
