TITIKSHA
(Continued…)
Some saints make Titiksha the goal of life. Till the end of life they stand on one leg in cold water in winter and in the hot sun in summer. Some remain naked in winter, some stand on one leg raising their hands above, some stand in water waist-deep and do Japa, some stand in the hot sun, some hang from a tree head downwards with a fire lighted below, while some sleep and sit on a bed of nails. They develop will-power, but such endurance by itself may not be able to secure the highest human end.
Foolish austerities of a rigorous kind are condemned by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. "The man who performs severe austerities unenjoined by the scriptures, wedded to vanity and egoism, impelled by the force of their desires and passions; unintelligent, tormenting the aggregated elements forming the body and Me also, firm in their resolves...".
Some ignorant people think: "If there are no diseases in this world, if there is no burning heat in summer, if it is always winter, if there is no pain in the world, if this world is free from tigers, cobras, scorpions, centipedes, flies, mosquitoes, bugs, etc., it will be a veritable heaven on earth.
A wise man never grumbles. He
tries to fix himself up in that unchanging, permanent, witnessing consciousness
which is hidden in his heart and which is beyond all the pairs of opposites,
and then watches the movements and the phenomena of this universe with an
unruffled mind.
He now understands the reason for
the existence of pain, snakes, scorpions, tigers, etc. This is true of Titiksha
based on knowledge. The practitioner can endure any kind of difficulty or
catastrophe and is not shaken even by shocking news of heavy sorrow.
He is superior to those who have trained themselves by physical torture, because the latter will show signs of failure when confronted by serious disasters.
He is superior to those who have trained themselves by physical torture, because the latter will show signs of failure when confronted by serious disasters.
Wherever you go you carry your own mind, subtle desires and innate tendencies with you. Attraction and repulsion are everywhere, even in the caves of the Himalayas. Create your own world and environments from within, then alone can you be happy anywhere and under any circumstances.
The best of all virtues is even-mindedness. Therefore, develop this virtue with patience and perseverance. Other virtues will cling to you by themselves. Bear difficulties patiently.
To an aspirant who wrote of
difficulties in his work Swami Sivananda replied: "Are you the Atman or
mind or body? Even though you have read my writings hundreds of times, you
identify yourself with mind and body and lose the balance of mind when a
trifling criticism is made, so strong is your egoism. People can criticize your
body and mind.
You yourself dislike your body and
mind. Those who criticize your body and mind become your friends. Then why do
you get agitated, my dear friend? You are still weak. You have not grown
spiritually. Ignore criticism.
Why do you brood over past events?
This is a very bad habit. You can't have peace of mind. Rise above criticisms
and petty remarks and stand firm like the rock. Do good to those men who
attempt to poison or hurt you. Put this in practice".
"Do not be afraid of insult, disrespect, dishonour, abuse, or harsh words. Wear them as ornaments on your body".
Love.
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