What is; Eq;uaLMindednilll

1. Equal-nrindednes5 reJafutg to the world.

2. Equal-nnndedness of a common type .. 3" Equal-mindedness towards work

4. Equal-mindednesa towards devotion,

5, Bqual-mmdedness 're1a:terl'to Wisdom, OW' ability by which we can ,control our

sensory organs is the beeisof equal mmdedness. .

1. In the daily world, just as w.e have hot and cold,) we also have pain and pleasure. [f man can accept pain andpleasure with the same attitud.e, he will be . able to lead ~ haPFY life,. Under certain conditii)'I1S,cold 'Will give happiness, 'and! under certain o<ther ~~~~~~~~-~~~~~~~~~ llappine5s. Here we should note that althoughthe 'tmli~ ~ dilier,entiuld the path is

dlffe:r'ent, ih:e 'aspect of pleasure is common, In cold winter, warmth gives us . bappm.es:;..m a hot season, col.d gives US comfort It appears as if hot and cold are oppOsites 'CJf' each other. If there were no cold we wouldi not give value to heat If we did not know wbat heat was, we would not give 50 value. to cold. ln~e same manner, unless then~ is pam, we do not enjo,y pleasare, Here sorrow takes the ferm ot a step to happiness. It :ilS necessary for us to recognize the I:rutliLllhat happiness is tontained in sorrow and sorrowis contained in happmess, Only when pam j~ mters,persed with pleasme de we' giy:e any value that the' pleasure. It is tlte:t:efore necessary for us to receive pam. and pleasure with an equal mind. Such equal-mindedness is referred to

as "eq'Q.a1-mm.dedness relating to the world". .

2. Then comes !:lie "squal-mmdedness re.iatlng to society". Praise and blame, loss and gam, victory and defeat are not ,li-o be regar-ded as opposites of each other. Theyfellow each other, Both blame and pr1li~se establish one's steadiness, They appear as n: they are contradidoryto, each other but they are not That which takas you toa respectable .position will also brtrig you down. AE,. you are being praised, blaJll.e will! also grow alQug5ide,. When WE! go on digging a well, a heap of mud will also grow alongside. The deeper 'we;g:o' into !he well, the' higher will 100 the accumulated mound> The well will be descriOOd! as a deep hole, wlille the Ifio·und will be described as a heap of mud. We think that the hole which conespGnds, to deep well.,. isthe blame, while theheap corresponds to praise. But when we put the heap of mu.dintothe well, :it getsfill~.

In this context,. the mudfrcm the weiland the m.ud in the head are' ~ same. Once we' realize that it is in fad so .. w@.will netbe afraid .of criticism or blame, We willi dev:e!op

an 'equa]-mmded attitude towards praise and. blame. O~y when. man can look at both these with the same attitude, will he be able to progress akmgthe sacred. path.

W@ will now 'taike losses and gains. If on the one hand we ~'eel happyait having sec;uJ['edl gains, we will a15(1 have to take the trouble of protecting these gains, The same amount of sorrow that we had befeee securing 'the gains will be there after securing the gams as, well. When we fe€lhappy that we have a profit, W"e will also feel sony that !:he mcome tax peoFle will take away a good deal of the profit H we can develoip the attitude that we neithe'r want th.€, gam nor the loss, we willi fhe:n be able to, Ieada peaceful life. In the same manner, certain attitudes connected with. seciety, like pam and pleasure, victo,ty and defeat etc. will always come togeth.er. Our first task should be to recognize O'iiU' duty, It is man's duty to make analfempt,; SUC1:e5S err faill1.l.re ·of the attempt should be ~eft·fo God. If we' d~velop this attitud.e" we will not be

'troubled by 'the SUCC'8SS or failure, .

3,.. Next is, the aspe<:t of "Equal-mindedness _ re1atlng to work. Ii' In this world, consequenceslike 5UCCeS&-Olind.. failures for me work you do are natural. TIm creation conststs of the commg together and :sepanting things. We sho"uld n.ot wo'ny about the results- o:t the work we undertake, We should recog-nize work ,as natural for a human being.

S. There' is the "equa] -mindedness relating to wisdom", We shoUl~d recognize that God is present eV'~here and what the reeegnitionof the Oneness (l,f God ili.E! basis ofall re:ligfon. When what really exisb is ocly One, there is no, {,'PQ'm for any difference in attitudes. So long as you have feeling of ownership, Or so long as YOIl!!. loop saying, "Mine, Mine, Mme", you will not have a chance to observe things as other than yOutS. So long as you have this. attitude JOU wililnever be, able. to understand what is not yours. ar.~ day when youg]ve up the idea of eomethings being YOtlJ.', yot!. will really understand this aspect of equouumity. You must reduce your attachment to things, Because through til.eoody, some attachmenta come up, we 'talk of rela.ti.onshlp. '!"he badqualrties that are preseJ!\t in US are responsible forthis, SQ loI1lg~s jealousy and ego are uppermoSt ID yo,ur mind .. God will be at 81. distance from. you. When you able to get rid of these qualities, God wiD. come close 00' you. To think th:alt you have not gone' closer to God is only a symptom of igIl:orance. The same Hem can give you happiness atone time and SOi\TOW at some other tim.es. For such. changes, hatred, ego, and jeato'1!l~ are responsihle,

-BABA,.

Purpcse ,of Developing Equal Mindednes.s

How do we do this, Here is a small exemple, There iswater in this tumbler. If we want to removeall this water, you do not have to make severalholesin !:,he tumbler even. if there is one small hole, all the waiter will Pe!S$ out of that ho~e. Here, equai attitude can 00 described in the following manner. You like some of the suhjects and onlythose subjects you will ge;t 90 or 95 marks, Since you do liIi.ot pay S'lIJIffi·eient attention to other subjeci3, yOIl will fail in those su'bj~~. You sn.o·uld realize that if you get high marks in. the subjects which you like and fail in the subjects that you do ucotlike,it means a total failure even if you passin six :;;ubjed$ and fail in one S'I.l,~ect is equivalent to tetalfailure, So' if you want to fail, it is enoug~.if you failin one subject You do nothave to fail mall the SU,fbjects. . Thus'l you must develop interest in the subject that you are not iJ'tfm'iested so; adjust yon likes. and dislikes that YQU do not fail . Ln. any subject. Even if you do not like a particular 5ubje±, OM should create interestm lli.at subject and obtain higher maxkS in that subject This has. .been described as equal mindedness, If the ideat:h.at he can get: high marts in. some suOje<:ts and. need. notgee higher marks in all the 5tlibjects exists .m. the mmd. of the student,. atte:m.pt:s should be made toeradicate such an idea. Inthe subjects which you like as well as in. the subjects that you do not like, you m.ust develop the same equal attitude and carry on your study. It is onJlY' in that sftuation, that the sharpentng of yOW' mteHect or of the human qualities in you can. happen, We should convey e:ach such teaching to the children

V@Ty- dearly and sbo,ngly: . -

InfUse· soul pow,er into. ed ucation throu.gh:

1. Removal of the illusory idea that happiness consists in money. knowledge, comforts; position and reputation.

.'

2.. Revelation of how happiness is :astate of mind that can be so cultivated that both good and

had, as well as: pleasure and pain will be ac--cepted with the same equipoise,

3·._ Bringing out the inner personality of students so that the best in them is. placed ~t the service of the ,e:onurnmitjr .. '

4. Attra.ctIDg; students to the cultivation of spirituahity along with science and induce the practice-of spiritualiityin daily living.

S. Making students giVE! up gossi:p and practice limited speech.

6 .. Introducing stu.dents to the sweet experiences of meditation and yoga, or of the JOY of mequity into' one's ownretWty.

7. Placing students on the path 'of self-confidence, seif.satlsfaction" se:lf-s.a.crific€,. and self-' realizatloo.

.8. Fostering.I\ spirit of tolerance and humility- so' that they will always look at fu.e good points . in odrers .and the-ir own faWts.

9. Promoting the performance of all duties with disdpl.ine and de-votion and in:;tillirig in students the concept of dharma in '@"If!!j' walk of life and ewry -endeavol'.

Students .m.d..5.a~

Moral education is the prim.iLty :reqwsite in li£e fur ev~ry student lfr is. hls basic duty. Wha.t Is fundamental to man's life is his moral stature. Morality (Neetru) is derived fromthe Sanskrit word (Nitha), Neethl meansrfghtconduct, It is the path fua,t leads one to tile $ubl.:imJe. Good eharactsr, purity ofthought and selfless sacrifice ue all covered by Neetru.. It comprehends all goodcte-eds. "Only a community devoted to merality is at hue conmtl!lmty/ says an adage. The ancients tegar.ded Neethi as fundamental, mmO'tlt wMdl. fue sod,ely will be ruined .. To promote Neethi ·the diviruty that is :in'e~dt one .must be manifested, ·FQrt'his pU1pose, even the, body has to be made !p1ll'e and hence' good health is essential .

Thebody consistsef the sense organs, themin.U:, the inwllect, theconsciousness, aad the 'md.welling Sprri't "Whoreness" means 'that all these eIem.en:ts should be whole. The mind sheuld be in a state I)f fullness. It shouilld not be in a stam of "J'lw.ps and

bumps". There should be no room for 'confusion or depression. . .

To achieve such a state of mind, it is necessary to understand. the meanmg of everything and every situation. for instance If as·fu:d!ent has failed in an exall~tiovw he shouM not get depressed, ml5tead" he should examine the reasons FormS fl'Iih.liI8:, whether he had not studied properly crunderstocd the subjects ~Q~fly.If he finds that his failure is due to inadequate preparation" he should resolve to do better ill the future.

To develop one's moral and mental strength, one :shoulid practice sadhena for d:iscipliningthe mmd, FC'll'trus:purpos;e, one has to promote !\en kinds of purity

(Sathwa).. .

The mstl5 purity of the place: .ID which one Uves. It is necessary 1:0 fill the room in which one resides or studies with a sa.thVlfic atmosphere. The pkhtres or other objects YOU, see should fin you with peace and pure thoughts. Objects. which arouse ,lglw:tion and bad lliou.ghtssnoU]d have no place. The room. should be clean and. fr~e from anything tMt is kttpure,

S€CO.l:id.:· In the family in which you live, there should be mutual understanding' and. cooperaticn, and a sense of harmony. There should be no' discord in the family that 1NiU create a had. atmosphere. A haITl1,OIllOuS atrntosphere will gjve you tru€' peace

of mind. .

The third is sathwic food. This means that none of the edible items should he excessively SQ'm, bi.tter or hot. You shattid eschew .rajask food like &11. 01' IDea.t Even good! sathwic food sno'ldd not be taken in excess.

Po1ll'rllh; Whatever fluids you. .I;ake s.Muld also besathwie, You should :not dnnJ:: whaitev@f W3J'ter is available, lit should. be pure water... AkOROJiCSpirits shoilld 'be eschewed,

Fifth: Sathwic thoughtsand reeillings are of g;reat importance. Stu.dents tend to neglect this factor. OnI!y is your thoughts and ree.!ililgs a..te pure, can you. get the Ml

benefit-of a dean rQam~ a good family and pme food. .

Sixru: If you wantl:to develop sa.thwic feeliags and thou:gnts, your vision must be pure. All creation is.based upon ru;ght It:is onl.y when, y,ou have wrongviaion 'that yQU have wrong thoughts,

Seventh: Wha.tever books you read or whatever you write should be pure. This is ilhil: sadhana relating to study. If you read 0:£ write that wltic..h :1& not pure, it warps your mind, A good book m.akesl'or a good mind. Any book you m.ay stndy about Physics or Chemistry or other subjects, does not "Lffuct you character. But boob which are limrary, are not .uways good lli:teratmJ.rE. If mtptoperooo.k3 are prescribed for stu.diy, treat themas iID!'U~ text-hooks and do not attach any high value to them as guides for'Ilfe,

Eighth: Pure Sathwi.c service. W:it!h Regard to. service, you have to decide what is satwica what is rafask. We go and clean streets, build reads in villages or dig wells and do them all as a serviceto the ccmmunity .. But the kind Qi;r.senie,e whach we do should give real happiness to the people. In the name of Social. work you go t.o a: h(lspital and approach a patient This is not real service. Any person whom you wish to serve, you. should regard as an embodiment of the Divine+ Going to the helpofthe

d",,,stiful:iea.nd the negl~ is rendering servioe to God. .

Ninth: Sadhena, This is spiritual dioc:ipline. 'This must be satwic, S4)me people do Hata Yoga. Some strivetodevelop 'the Kundililini: Sa1cti. Some invoke evil spirits, to do, ham tooth.e:r.s .. These forms. of sadbana are not sadhana at ail. The individual is Chith(comciousness}. God 15 Sath(The eternal Ab$ollUte), Wh.en· Sath and Chilli combine, you have A,naiu:l!a- Sat-Chith-Ananda, Only tha sadhana undertaken to realize Satchitananda is true sadhana, Where is this Sailh? This Sath,th.e Divine, is in everybody. So, you .must be prepared to serve everybody; regarding you kith and kin. The'!'e ~(l;otlting wrong mthis;,. You must perform sadhana in tbespirit that the One pervades the many. In. this precess, you must cultivate the feeling of Love. There is no higher sadhana than the cultivation of LQw~!

Tenth: You oceupadoner profession. Wha,t is the .kind of work you should take up? It shoald !be w'Ork wlri~h Can oonefitth.e naden, the comrnlUti'ty< The' r:mtion enables Y01l1 to earn a.living. You. must see what you. can glw to the nation, in return, YOU, . must ask yOUl'seJt· "What is the service, what is the help 1 can do for' the

. community?" You must see that there is no untruth in any work you do, no tmfairn~, no 1l:aud,no evil :tneotirve.

Theseare the pure things which you have to observe in your life, If gradlllalID.y you reduce yOW" desires, you will be able to bring the senses Under control. You must avoid the company of the bad and cultivabs the company of the good. Association 'W1ith. the good is pure Yoga! I desire, that YOll should pursu'e this kind ,of yoga. and confer happiness on aJ1. people with whom you are associated! You should strive to get rid of all yOW' bad .thoughts, give UpOll!1 your bad traits, discharge your o~li:g:a.tions- to your parents, rendet.c:Hsinter€s'ted service tothe community and. thereby red.eem you illiv@s and earn the' grace o,f god.

-BABA-

~QlIj:zjngWocldb Knowkdge and ~.rinl:allSnowledge is Fqual Mindedness

Spiritual EoocatiOfl· Worldly Edllcation

1.

Goes direct to the heart

Helps to elimlnate desires and gives d!etadunenta.nd peace.

3,.

Deflates the ego and produces tranquilli'tyand happiness.

4.

Teaches the method of facing both success and defeat with an equal mind.

5.

Helps ~o conquer oneself.

6.

Gives humility andwisdom.

1.

Caters to the mind and intellect,

2.

Promotes: dlesire~; and attachments leOlding to a state ·of ash anti (lack of peace ofmmd).

Develop the€go,prociu.ces an.gel' and unhappiness,

3.

4.

Makes one unduly happy when successful, and utte"ly desperate when unsuccessful.

5.

Helps to conquer aspects of the . outside world.

6.

G Wes informa tionand knowledge.