This chapter is the English translation of Gujarati Book
               Title   -  Sadhak and Sathi
               Author  -  Shri Atmanandji (Dr. Soneji)




      CHAPTER - 9



      EQUANIMITY
      (SAMATA-NI SADHANA)

      Every person in his lifetime almost constantly feels pleasure
      and pain by experiencing happiness and sorrow, respect and
      disrespect, interest and lack of interest, cold and heat and so
      on.  Unruffled by all these, when one tries to live in a spirit
      of peace with a balanced mind, one is said to practice
      equanimity.

      In the present context, it is proposed to think over and analyze
      the subject from a philosophical point of view.  Real equanimity
      can be attained to at a very high level of spiritual
      development.  Its genuine attainment is possible only when an
      aspirant has passed through various stages of spiritual
      progress (Sadhana).

      IMPLEMENTING THE MEANS OF EQUANIMITY:

      Genuine equanimity cannot dawn in the life of an aspirant until
      the knowledge of the self (Atma-jnana) is attained.  The very
      basis of equanimity is pure thoughts and feelings, which in
      turn, are dependent on self-knowledge.  Now, if knowledge of the
      self is to be acquired, a clear distinction between the self
      and non-self with its practice in day-to-day life is imperative.
      The three best means to accomplish this task are:

         1. Company of noble persons and saints.

         2. Cultivation of specific virtues.

         3. Self contemplation (meditation).

      Each of these means should be grasped thoroughly.  As the
      synergistic combination of the above three is practiced,
      discriminative power evolves, resulting in self-contemplation
      and self-realization.  With that, the Sadhana of equanimity
      develops more and more.  It is thus necessary that every
      aspirant cultivates universal friendship with all living beings,
      becomes indifferent to sensual objects of the world, gives up
      evil thought processes, and attains equanimity by vision and
      contemplation of the absolute Reality.

      When a saintly aspirant attains this state and progresses
      further, he experiences a unique inner peace and oneness with
      his soul.  This is the best and the most praiseworthy attainment
      of a spiritual life known as equanimity.

      Knowledge and detachment are the horses of the chariot of this
      great hero.  Humility is the charioteer, discrimination is his
      body-guard, forgiveness is his armor, patience is the shield,
      austerity and self-control are the bow and arrow, and pure
      intellect is his sword.

      When the well-organized army of this well-equipped soldier
      attacks the fort of the enemies, their armies break down and run
      away in the very first attack.  As all the enemies, such as
      passion, arrogance, anger, greed, lust, and jealousy, start
      running helter-skelter, their commander-in-chief, that is,
      infatuation gets absolutely confused.  In no time, he is
      compelled to surrender to this great soldier, the victorious
      aspirant (Sadhaka), the city of equanimity and flees away
      forever.

      Thus every aspirant has to put in great and firm effort in order
      to win over his original abode of equanimity.  This equanimity
      is known by several names such as equality, quietude, Samadhi,
      Yoga, tranquility of mind, the state of self-experience,
      self-realization, and Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

      AN EQUANIMOUS PERSONALITY:

      The vision and speech of a person who has attained equanimity
      undergoes a basic and complete transformation.  Consequently,
      divinity is reflected within him at all places, at all times and
      in all activities of his life.  In his heart, he experiences
      that all the living beings in the world are alike to his own
      self, and this feeling and experience of his is reflected in the
      day-to-day activities of his life.

      As he has realized his own self (Atma) to be the best and the
      highest, he experiences no attraction or attachment towards
      worldly objects.  He might be garlanded with flowers or rocks,
      respected or insulted, given a gold or a copper coin, a sandal
      or cow dung may be applied to his body, and he is neither
      pleased nor displeased.  To him, a residence in a palace or a
      crematorium, forest or a magnificent house, are just the same.

      However he prefers to reside in a lonely place where his spirit
      of non-attachment remains undisturbed and intact.  There he
      experiences constantly the proximity of his true and real self
      in the form of true knowledge and divine bliss.  He experiences
      his supreme self repeatedly.  The hard fact is that there are no
      words to describe the loftiness and greatness of this superhuman
      being with magnanimous and divine knowledge.  However, his real
      personality is far beyond speech and mind.

      These are grand ascetic persons endowed with equanimity.  The
      land on which they place their foot-steps, verily becomes a holy
      land and therefore it becomes a place of pilgrimage.

      Their presence is always surrounded by an atmosphere of peace,
      equanimity, friendship, and sacredness.  It becomes almost a
      magical atmosphere surcharged with such holiness that even the
      most wicked people and violent animals give up their wickedness
      and violence and adopt a spirit of unity and friendship.  These
      truth seeking aspirants who are inspired by the keen and pure
      desire to seek knowledge and bliss of the self, resort to their
      vicinity and company.  There is no surprise if they win eternal
      bliss.  We, the ordinary people of the world, deserve only to
      take the dust of their feet on our heads with a spirit of great
      reverence.

      GLORY OF EQUANIMITY:

      1. May my soul work hard to attain to a spirit of equanimity
         which is possible by abandoning attachment to the body and by
         becoming completely detached from all desires, passions and
         enjoyments.

      2. All worldly desires get dissipated by resorting to the spirit
         of equanimity; ignorance vanishes and the mind comes under
         control.  Therefore let one, be devoted to equanimity.

      3. By resorting to the spirit of equanimity, one wins firm and
         steady happiness, attains the state of eternity, and
         shatters all the bonds due to Karmas.

      4. The Yogi, who is steady and firm in equanimity, keenly feels
         that this world is mad, misguided, deluded, and asleep.

      5. The state of the soul, bereft of infatuation and agitation is
         the very secret of Supreme Reality; again it is only that
         who is called equanimity that can lead to liberation
         (Nirvana).  The noblest souls therefore worship and take
         recourse in this equanimity which is of the nature of supreme
         righteousness and eternity.



      LIVING EXAMPLES OF EQUANIMITY:


      (1)

      Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak was a lawyer and disciple of Mahatma
      Gandhi who significantly contributed in the struggle for freedom
      in India.  He was famous as a great patriot, scholar, and
      philanthropist.  Utter devotion to his country, simplicity,
      modesty, religious learning, study of the scriptures, and many
      other virtues made his life full of fragrance.

      One day he was busy solving an important problem in his office,
      it was not easy because the problem was highly complex.  Deep
      concentration was necessary.  A servant arrived and told him
      that his son was in a critical condition and so he should run
      home.  However, Tilak was busy with his work.

      After some time, his partner himself came and told, "Well Tilak,
      your son is in a very serious state.  Please run home
      immediately!"

      Tilak replied, "Well!  In the morning I have explained
      everything to the doctor.  He is treating him.  What good can I
      do?" The partner left.

      When Tilak returned home after completing his work, his son was
      dead.  Tilak changed his clothes and prepared to go to the
      crematorium as if nothing had happened.

      Not becoming overwhelmed with sorrow on the death of his eldest
      son was no small matter.  Only rare persons who constantly
      practice equanimity can keep such great equanimity intact.


      (2)

      About a hundred years ago in the state of Orissa, India; a
      robber named Ramkhan, had spread terror.  Nobody dared even to
      refer to his name.  People were terror stricken and used to
      tremble by just a reference to his name.  Every one wished to
      be freed from the terror of this robber.

      Mahatma Harnath was a great saint of the area.  He gave courage
      to the frightened people and said, "Well brothers, no sinner is
      bad, only sin is bad." With these words, he took the track into
      the forest where this terrorizing robber lived.

      With an extremely peaceful composure, detached and fearless
      vision, and the luster of celibacy, the Mahatma proceeded to the
      forest where the bandit lived.  As he reached the place of his
      residence, the eyes of Ramkhan fell on the Mahatma and he was
      immediately transformed.  The emotions of the robber to whom
      killing people was just a game, were transformed.  He said, "O
      great saint!  I have committed countless crimes.  Now you have
      come and with you has come the time of my uplift."  With these
      words, he fell down at the feet of the Mahatma.

      The Mahatma raised the robber and embraced him with love.  He
      said, "Well brother, all sins are destroyed by resorting to the
      path of God.  This leads a person to Supreme eternal delight.
      May you therefore resort to atonement of your misdeeds, improve
      your life, and get engrossed in the adoration of the path of
      God."

      Ramkhan became a monk and passed the rest of his life in the
      name of God.  This shows that even the lowest of the low get
      uplifted by the life of these souls endowed with equanimity;
      sinners can be purified.

      This is a living example of this reality.


      (3)

      Mahatma Gandhi looked upon Shrimad Rajchandra as his spiritual
      preceptor.  Shrimad Rajchandra had a diamond business in Bombay,
      but often he used to visit small towns for Yogic practices.

      In 1954, he came to Kavitha, a small town in the state of
      Gujarat for his spiritual progress (Sadhana) in seclusion. He
      preached twice during the daytime but resorted to silence in the
      evening.

      At nightfall, he used to sit in meditation all alone in the
      adjoining fields or on the river bank.  He put just one cloth on
      over his body even in the severest cold.  In this state of
      meditation mosquitoes used to bite him; but he withstood this
      with his equanimity.  Mostly, he would even be conscious of the
      mosquitoes, but the fact betrayed itself when red swellings
      appeared on his body.

      In this manner, Shrimad Rajchandra revealed great soul force by
      resorting to equanimity even under adverse circumstances, and in
      the end took to the highest Samadhi.  This is indeed, an other
      worldly power of equanimity.