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gery may help reduce a man's excitability, but the process of development or any progress can take place only on the conscious level. The change wrought by a surgical operation is not permanent, and it is also fraught with the risk of causing an irreparable harm to the human organism.
All the parts of the body are balanced in a state of equilibrium and have their utility. Any harm caused to any one part is liable to affect the entire organism. The removal of a single healthy sinew of the body may result in the deformation or perversion of a limb. Therefore, instead of removing particular centres through surgery, it is far more profitable to bring about a chemical change in them. By effecting a change in feelings, such a chemical change takes place of itself. In this process, there is a spontaneous development of independent consciousness. By anaesthetizing consciousness, anger does come to an end, but this is not the way of progress. All this only serves to underline the fact that the effect of removing the sensory centres through a surgical operation, and that of bringing about a change in the endocrine secretions through the transformation of feelings, are radically different. To neutralize negative feeling is one thing, but to create a positive, constructive outlook is something quite different. The joy of a constructive outlook is possible only through the development of equanimity, not by severing a centre.
The sages have termed equanimity arising from the development of consciousness, as the Law of Life and of great utility. Action influenced by equanimity is the greatest provision in the life of a sadhak. From this angle, the practice of equanimity is very necessary.
Q. It has been said in the Neetivakyamrit that of all
- behaviours, equanimity is the best. Why is equanimity the best? Why most useful?
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