Contentment Versus Emotionlessness

In discussions on the state of contentment (a balanced life, being neither happy nor sad), a point is sometimes raised: if a person lives beyond happiness and sadness, would that not make them as emotionless as a robot? Well then, if one is not balanced, would they not become victims of their emotions? The reality is that being beyond emotions means that one’s Soul or consciousness is awake to its own eternal, nonchanging existence. So while happiness and sadness cycle through life, one is inside their eternal experience and is not knocked off course by emotional events. Just as during a rainstorm, if you are inside the house, you are less affected by the weather.

Moreover, those who are more aware of their eternal Soul have a greater ability to feel whatever emotion a life event brings, because they are not afraid of being swallowed up by these emotions. They can remain open and balanced and are able to make the wisest decisions even during hectic and emotional times. They will be less likely let situations overtake them. A clear-minded person chooses what is best for their life-purpose ― that is, what is best for all people and nature ― when they remain in harmony with that nature. A person who is enslaved by their emotions, in times of extremes, makes decisions based on personal, short-term needs. So it is not that a person is emotionless. Rather, they are able to feel the full range and depth of emotions without being overcome by them. In this way, they can continue to serve others in the best way possible — free from being overwrought by circumstances.

The Enlightened Person

Lord Krishna notes that the Enlightened person, the one who sees all things as eternal Soul, helps all beings. Such a person can see the grace in others ― their Godlike qualities ― and serves all people equally. There is no judgment, no helping only ‘good’ people and ignoring ‘bad’ or ‘evil’ people. They do their best to serve all people who cross their paths. And in doing so, they attain full liberation.

Again, the reader is cautioned to not take this statement as an absolute. Each person has a range of influence: there are some people you can help and others you cannot. For example, in the Ayurvedic health system, it advises the practitioner to help those they can help, and honestly admit when they cannot help someone.

It is good for readers to reflect on their own lives to see how open their hearts are to their own loved ones, co-workers, and neighbors.

In this way, you can see if you treat people equally without judgment or malice.

When loneliness, loss, grief, and emptiness do not break one’s spirit; when anger and lust no longer control a person; when happiness, fame, and good fortune are not a cause for becoming drunk with happiness to the point of ignoring responsibilities; when even sadness can be welcomed with feelings of gratefulness; when everyone and everything is seen as the God-spirit ― the sat chit ananda or eternal bliss of spirit or God or nature, only then can one be said to be fully liberated from material life.

Another way to describe this experience is that when a person feels to be, and that contentment or peace can be realized regardless of one’s circumstances, this is a form of liberation, that is, freedom In reality, it is impossible to describe the state of sat chit ananda. As Lord Krishna says, it is not really outward appearances that determine internal realization. Even the great Indian saint Ramakrishna, when he was informed a spiritual council determined that he was Self-Realized, said that he didn’t know what the term meant; that he was the same person now as he was before receiving the news: nothing had changed, so the ‘outer’ words meant nothing to him.

The understanding of Self-Realization is often confused by people’s projections of what they believe such enlightened behavior would be like; however, in reality, each enlightened person has a very unique personality and life experience. At the end of his life, the saint Paramahamsa Yogananda said that in his next life, he will be not be a leader, but instead be the person sitting in the back of the room that no one notices.

Nowadays, much more is made of the notion of Self-Realization than is merited. There is a saying:

Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.

After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.

The external person is the same. The enlightened person behaves normally, not calling attention to himself or herself. Bhaktas (people who feel great love and devotion toward God), do not even ask for moksha (Self-Realization), because it would mean sacrificing the feeling of loving God and knowing that God love’s them. Although the issue of moksha sells books and spiritual courses, apart from the commercial arena, it is a term that more often than not, keeps the intellect engaged in some personal illusion of what moksha is or would be like, while preventing the growth of experiencing the grace of devotion in the living present.

Trust no future, no matter how pleasant.

Let the dead past bury its dead.

Act, act in the living present.

Heart within and God overhead So instead of divorcing Self-Realization from compassion, remember that the aim of moksha is to end suffering. How each person grows in peace and compassion will differ, because every path to God is unique.

It is impossible to describe the state of moksha, since it is beyond words. So what is written here is merely a feeble attempt to illuminate and should not be taken as an absolute. The only absolute is the eternal Soul.

As this wisdom, based in experience, grows stronger, peace becomes stronger, and the less the mind, emotions, senses, and desires battle for attention. This is called mental sannyas, or keeping a strong, detached, compassionate mind in the midst of an active life. Some major pointers to developing such an exalted state include:

1. Acknowledge abundance in your life.

2. Follow a healthy lifestyle and Ayurvedic food plan.

3. Discover and follow your life-purpose (dharma) and work toward short- and long-term visions..

4. Do good for others or at least do not cause harm.

5. Do not run after fame and fortune.

6. Read the scriptures and other uplifting compassionate writings.

7. Credit all actions and results thereof to God or nature or spirit.

8. Use intuition and common sense [Verse 18–29].

Only those who see a holy person endowed with wisdom and humility, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a pariah with equal vision have realized genuine wisdom. [18]

Those who have equanimity of mind conquer this world in this lifetime, because they are endowed with an equality of vision of the eternal, and are free from all dualities of life; they are established in God awareness. [19]

Completely rooted in eternal awareness and understanding eternal Self, self-possessed of spiritual wisdom, undeluded, neither rejoicing nor grieving upon receiving pleasant or unpleasant life events. [20]

One whose Self is not attached to the external sense objects enjoys the inner delight of Self. God-realized through union of small and cosmic Self, they enjoy eternal bliss. [21]

Pleasures from sense objects are a source of misery as they have a beginning and an end.

O Arjuna, this is why the spiritually wise never seek delight in them. [22]

The person who is not ruled by physical and emotional desires in their life is self-controlled and truly happy. [23]

Those who have found inner eternal joy, pleasure, and light, have become established in God-love realization — eternal freedom. [24]

The knowers of Truth (rishis) whose doubts have been dispelled, whose sins have been cleansed, act only to help all beings; they realize eternal liberation. [25]

Those who have renounced (temporal material pleasures), are free from lust and anger, and are Self-Realized; they experience absolute freedom now and forever. [26]

Those whose mind ignores external sense-objects, with eyes fixed between the eyebrows, and stilled in and out breaths inside the nostrils, that person has controlled their senses, mind and spiritual intelligence. Free from desire, fear and anger, they are fully focused on Soul liberation as their supreme goal, they are liberated forever. [27-28]

Knowing Me to be the receiver and dispenser of offerings (yajna) and austerity, the Supreme Lord of the Universe, and the friend of all beings, they realize eternal peace. [29]

Summary:

By not holding onto material possessions or seeking fame, fortune, and power, and instead crediting all to God and by cultivating a sense of gratitude and grace, and being non-judgmental, individuals can undergo the renunciation of worldly things and feel a greater sense of intimate love between themselves and God.

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