ADVENTURES IN ADVAITA VEDANTA...

Adventures in Advaita Vedanta, the philosophy and science of spirit. We are one you and I; are you curious why?..


Arrest the Bandits

Hari Om
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality and become more congruent within our personality.

We are reading "Tips for Happy Living - jIvnsUÇai[ /jiivanasuutraani", by Swami Tejomayananda (Guru-ji). Choose-days writings are here to prompt deeper thinking on the choices made on a daily basis and seek to provide prompts for raising the standard of one's thinking and living. This text composed in format of Sanskrit traditional teachings, speaks directly to this purpose. As ever, the full text may be obtained from CM Publications - or your local centre (see sidebar).

"Mind Your Mind" is the subtitle given to chapter seven of our text. Think 'shaantiH, shaantiH, shaantiH"! What is most precious to man and how does he lose it?

kam³aexaidivkarap[a< n vzmagCDet!.1.
Man>zaiNtivvekinxenaRzkTvat.2.
Kaama-krodhaadi-vikaaraanaam na vasham-aagachcchet ||1||
manaHshaanti-vivekanidher-naashakatvaat ||2||
One should not come under the sway of vices like desire, anger and so on.
They being the destroyers of the wealth and mental peace.

We would not easily put at stake what we value; we safeguard whatever we consider precious. We invest much 'value' in 'stuff', but also our physical health. What of our mental health and wellbeing though? We unwittingly surrender our power and permit other people and situations to rob us of our discrimination and peace of mind. The slightest provocation, a hint of an insult, a minor discomfort, an imagined loss, anger or jealousy… any of these disturbs our mental poise and thinking capacity.

To remain totally unaffected by likes, dislikes, anger etc., may initially seem impossible. However, we can become aware of them arising within us and not get swayed and swept away by them. We can discipline ourselves so that they do not overwhelm us or loot our inner tranquility.

How does one overcome anger? The simple answer is - do not get angry in the first place! It requires a simple flick of the mental switch. The act of doing requires effort, not-doing does not. Likewise, becoming angry is an action therefore requires energy. Not becoming angry is effortless. Yet we somehow have transposed this in ourselves and we put energy into 'not getting angry'.  Simply, don't be angry. If you wish to exhaust yourself, weary yourself of the world, by all means, exert the energy required for anger.

Also, when we value mental peace as true wealth, and when we realise that likes and dislikes and resultant desire, anger, greed, delusion, arrogance and jealousy are our enemies,  we will not give into them so readily. We will recognise them as wayside bandits who destroy our knowledge and wisdom.