Vedanta and coming to terms with the U.S. elections

Dear friends,

Like many others, I regret that we lost the U.S. presidential elections and along with, a large chunk of our nation’s moral character, to a convicted felon.

I feel for my friends who are still grieving.

However, I am detaching myself from post election discussions, for the most part. No, not as callous gesture, but as a well-meaning and well-intentioned one designed for mental peace and for the lack of a better word, an elevated state of mind so I continue to lead an inspired life. 

My actions are informed by my beloved Bhagavad Geeta, which never fails to deliver wisdom and advice when we need it most, and my guru, Swami Dheerananda. 

Cultivating equanimity towards ups and downs

Chapter 2, verse 38 of the Bhagavad Geeta says: 

sukha-duḥkhe same kṛitvā lābhālābhau jayājayau
tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpam avāpsyasi

Translation: Having made pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat the same, engage in battle for the sake of battle; thus, you shall not incur sin. 

The verse calls for equanimity in the face of all events in life.

Once we enter life, we must cultivate  equanimity or evenness of mind. It has to be a creative, inspired, life-long pursuit to teach ourselves to enjoy the good moments and face adversity well.

What does cultivating equanimity mean?

It means we cultivate the ability to accept the opposites that are as much a part of life as heat is to the sun and cold is to the snow, with mental poise and steadfastness. Experiencing highs and lows is the very nature of life itself. 

Otherwise, we’d be like the deep sea diver who jumps into the ocean without oxygen or a good wet suit. Or, like an oil rigger on the North Sea not expecting to face tumultuous seas and gigantic angry waves tossing their ship up and down.

We do our best with our informed actions and move on with steadiness and poise. That’s called Yoga. 

No, not the poses, which is the modern definition of Yoga. But Yoga is a special condition of the mind in which it comes to a neutral equilibrium, in the ebb and flow of life’s tides, explains Swami Chinmayananda.

yogasthaha kuru karmaani sangam tyaktvaa dhananjaya
siddhyasiddhyoh samo bhootvaa samatvam yoga uchyate
(Chapter 2, verse 48, Bhagavad Geeta)

Translation: Perform action O Dhananjaya, abandoning attachment, being steadfast in yoga, and balanced in success and failure. Evenness of mind is called YOGA.

We did our best for the elections, fought for a candidate, things did not go our way, yet it was a fair democratic election. We move on. Yeah, take a moment to grieve, reflect, then move on. We find the next move to make us, our life, the society better—that’s our karma yoga or action in life. The ups will come again, inevitably.

Some might argue for the cathartic value of rehashing the negative—that it’s important to vent emotion. I call it giving mental real estate to the negative. Examining every move, every cabinet position announced, and projecting anxieties at what might happen is a recipe for disaster. It will make us sick as it is a breeding ground for cultivating negative emotions.

Stick to the present

Here’s the famous verse 47 from chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Geeta.

Karmanye vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana
Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani

Translation: Your right is to work, but never to the fruits of your work. Let the fruit of action be not your motive, not let your attachment be your inaction.

We worked, we might not have received the results we expected, but they were not ours to begin with. When we perform actions craving for endless results, our inner personality disintegrates as we place ourselves in a future that is not even born. That’s sheer dissipation of mental energy better used to work in the present moment.

So let’s continue to do our work in the present to cultivate a better me, a better us, a better life, and a better future.

Be a sakshi bhava or an observer

Being an observer, a witness, or sakshi in life is the seat of God in Vedanta. Maintaining objectivity in face of extreme events is the key to contentment in life, because we are not tangled in the web of our mind and the thoughts and emotions it produces.

So let’s accept the Shakespearean, “All the world’s a stage/And all the men and women merely players” and watch what might be a comedy of errors unfold, but not get caught up in it and stick to our karma or work now. Let’s lead an inspired life with grace and optimism. Let’s stop reacting and start reaching out now, first within ourselves for that wisdom and strength, then outside to act and do and be our best. 

Now that’s in our hands, isn’t it?

Meaningfully yours,
Anu Prabhala