Ashtavakra (contd.)

   There is another verse in Ashtavakra Samhita (III.11) that says, "A person established in his Self is neither pleased when feted, praised, adored, nor will he be angry, feel sad, disappointed when abused and tormented." This state of equanimity of mind, sthitaprajnya, of a yogi is something we cannot understand. It looks, well, familiar, not at all strange, or difficult to understand when these words are read in the Bhagavad-Gita (See BG- sthitaprajnyasya ka bhasha samadhistatya keshavaa... sthita dheehirmuniruchyate). Lord Krishna says, "A person of balanced (sthita) mind, sthitaprajnya, or a mind set in an equilibrium state, without vibration (chittavrutti), will be free from attachment (moha), likes (raga) and dislikes, envy (dvesha), Profit (labha) and loss (nashta), success (jaya) and failure (apajaya). It is not possible to overcome the terrific forces of shad-vargas like lobha, moha, krodha, mada, matsarya, raga, dvesha, etc. which are our foes (ari/shatru)These are the forces that bind us to the objective world. We cannot overcome desire and desire (kama/kamana) bequeaths anger (krodha)But, don't we know the episode of angry Durvasa Muni who kicked Lord Vishnu on His chest? If an enlightened sage like Durvasa cannot get rid of anger, how can a mortal attain the state of equanimity? Lord Krishna goes on elaborately describing the state of equanimity. A jnyani, yogi is not perturbed by the goings-on in this mundane world and will never bother or get entangled in it. But, how?

   The state of equanimity or sthita prajnyata comes only when a person experiences the futility of the worldly existence, or for that matter, fully experiences life and finds himself/herself fully satiated, fully satisfied, becomes happy and contented, realizes that there is nothing much to enjoy here on this earth, a mrutyu lok which riddled with aging, diseases, sickness, and death; the yogi feels or remembers (abhjnyana) that there is something much, more, happier, a sort of supreme bliss that he has already experienced than the insatiable sensual life here. 'The soul knows everything' and remembers everything is the fundamental principle and, as such, the jnyani remembers that he has already experienced this bliss. Embodied soul, as he is, now he/she hankers after that higher life- a life of a sage, Rishi, devarishi or a Brahmarishi- tapojana, without a physical body, A jnyani is always established in a higher state of consciousness beyond the body, mind and ahamkar and thereby is always in a state of bliss.
   We all know how a microscopic germ or a virus can attack and devour the body and kill it. If such an insignificant creature or an elemental body can have such a power, how about a person 6 ft. tall weighing over 80 kg.? He too can exercise the power vested in him/her provided he is aware of it. This awareness will not come without the help of yoga- dhyana, dharana, and samadhi. Any spiritual seeker can attain this state of samadhi and reach the state of sthitaprajnyata.