Ten Days Journey Into The Self

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Centre

Page 20

If you have children, at times they will go against you. However, at that moment, keep your balance. Learn the art of patience, of equanimity. As amity and equanimity grow, they will show on your face. Irritation begets irritation. Rejection begets rejection. Your irritation and rejection only lead them to build their opposition, rather than to question themselves. Once in a very lonely place in India, I met a well-known highway-man, head of a gang. Perhaps because no fear showed on my face, he asked for my blessings. I gave him my blessings, and then at my suggestion we sat down and carried on a lengthy conversation. Because I was sympathetic rather than condemnatory, he revealed that he would prefer a different life, but did not know how to make the transition. I offered help, which I was later able to give, and he is now a useful citizen. If I had shown scorn or contempt, or that I was upset by his way of life, this could not have happened. We have to maintain our equilibrium, not only society, but also with those in power whom our own vision and our human rights demand we oppose. Gandhi had unshakable equilibrium even with the British, against whom he was leading our struggle to win freedom and independence. Even though he was adamant in the fight against their domination, inwardly he was filled with amity for them. He told me, "One day those who still rule over us will understand our position and we will achieve our freedom. So we must fight, but with the weapon of love." And he set the world an example by succeeding. Also, have equanimity for yourself, your own progress, your own battle against your inner enemies. It is said, "Rome was not built in a day !" and it would seem that equanimity is as difficult to build as Rome! Learn from the errors you are bound to commit. Once when I was a youth, impatient with the progress of non-violent resistance, I became part of an underground movement. I was tortured by the police, my legs slashed. Thereby I learned that those who embrace violence have no right to expect anything but violence in return. That is the Karma of action. It is up to us to stop the vicious circle.
Only on the basis of equanimity, can evil be turned good. Now let us meditate.
Only as consciousness expands, can we find our place and our peace in the universe...
THOUGHTS
1. "May I always show the path to the pathless ones, but if they should not harken, may bide patiently."
2. Show equanimity to ourselves also as, in the face of our own errors and our backwards steps, we climb toward the light.
3. Learn to recognize the subtle moments in life", when we have reached out to give and are rejected. Love and compassion can become sour as the ego starts to take command. It is then we must summon all reserves of equanimity.