What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

My steadfast answer is “Equanimity,” an enduring companion that shall journey with me wherever I roam.

Equanimity shall be my unwavering guide through life’s myriad experiences. Its essence will empower me to navigate challenges with grace and embrace the world’s fluctuations with a steady heart and mind.

I have found and adopted two easy paths to achieve my goals.: 1) Vedantic Approach: Upanishads (Advaita- Non-Dualism) & 2) Yogic Approach (Patanjali Yoga sutras)

Why? Let me justify:

The pursuit of an unwavering sense of balance and inner tranquilly becomes crucial in a world where life’s journey is characterised by uncertainty and hardships. If there is one item that sticks out as being the most crucial to always have with you, it is unquestionably “Equanimity.” Being calm and balanced in the middle of life’s ups and downs is a treasure that enlivens each moment and equips us with the fortitude and grace to sail across the turbulent waters of existence.

Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, is one of the most remarkable examples of equanimity. The profundity of Aurelius’ awareness of life’s transience and the value of preserving composure is evident in his reflections. He is a prime example of the value of inner tranquilly because of his ability to face difficulties and failures with a serene demeanour. He understood that while we have no influence over the outside world, we do have control over how we choose to react to it. With this realisation, he made the decision to carry the serenity torch, illuminating his way through the difficulties of governing an empire and the struggles of his personal life.

Lord Krishna’s ageless proclamation in the Bhagavad Gita:

When we turn to the spiritual world, we find Lord Krishna’s ageless proclamation in the Bhagavad Gita. 12th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita unveil a holistic approach to devotion. They elucidate that devotion isn’t confined to ritualistic practices, but rather encompasses a profound transformation of one’s character and attitude. The qualities described – non-enmity, compassion, humility, contentment, equanimity, and non-harming – collectively shape a devotee into a vessel of divine love and grace.

Lord Krishna extols the virtue of composure in the presence of duality. He promotes a heart that is unmoved by happiness and grief, success and failure, pleasure and suffering. This instruction serves as a reminder that true equanimity is the transcendence of judgements and biases that frequently taint our interactions and arises from perceiving all creatures with equal compassion.

Following lines are the essence of few shlokas from 12th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita:

Bhagavad Gita: Shloka No. 13: States that individuals who are kind and sympathetic and have no ill intent towards others are precious to the Divine. This establishes the theme for the next verses, emphasising the value of developing an empathic heart that is free from hatred.

Bhagavad Gita: Shloka No.14: This idea is expanded upon in which says that the divine values qualities like contentment, lack of possessiveness, and the capacity to remain calm in both pleasure and pain. The importance of detachment is emphasised in this stanza, not in the sense of withdrawing from life but rather in the sense of retaining a balanced perspective regardless of life’s dualities.

Bhagavad Gita: Shloka No.15: continues by emphasising humility as a fundamental virtue. The perfect devotee, according to Lord Krishna, is one who is devoid of pride and haughtiness because humility allows for more profound spiritual connections and understandings.

Bhagavad Gita: Shloka No 16.:  the ideas of forgiveness and non-harming are first introduced. The ideal devotee is one who is unbiased towards all beings and does not harbour any hate. Non-harming behaviour encompasses more than just physical actions; it also includes ideas and feelings.

Bhagavad Gita: Shloka No. 17: The topic of equanimity is reiterated here and emphasises that the Divine loves everyone who is unmoved by honour and dishonour, joy and agony. 

This discourse is concluded by Shloka No. 18, which emphasises that the highest level of spiritual connection is attained by the person who is unaffected by praise or censure, who is silent, content, and constant in their devotion.

The teachings of Lord Jesus Christ:

The life of Lord Jesus Christ is a shining example of unwavering tranquilly in the pages of history. It is a great condition of equanimity to be able to accept suffering and even to forgive people who have wronged you, as he did. He showed the transformational power of a calm spirit by embodying love and compassion despite the hardships he encountered. We develop a reserve of empathy and resiliency by embodying the spirit of Christ’s serenity, which enables us to rise above our own limits and promote a more compassionate society.