Balance of Mind

Balance of Mind. A composed mind is all about balance. The art of balancing is not the jugglers' or trapezium artists' stuff but to navigate the circus of life.

 

What is a composed mind?

 

The morning's first message I get is about what a composed mind is.

 

Let me put it this way: how do we know it, i.e., a composed mind? We all know it is needed or at least wished for, not merely verbally but as a matter of fact.

 

Lack of it is what is causing ill treatment of senior citizens or derailment of many relationships and increasing the visits to psychiatrists.

 

It does not require great knowledge in any field or any specific spiritual exercise or any philosophical concept, etc. The moment the mind starts to follow predefined specific routes, it is gradually getting rooted into some identity and therefore vulnerable to conflict with a different identity.

 

So, what is or are the acid tests[s] of a composed mind?

 

There was news about a computer program that predicts death: http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/30011/20150915/hospital-computer-predicts-death.htm

 

But I can assure you no technology can predict human intentions.

 

The acid test of a composed mind involves basically a question of balance and prioritizing our choices, actions, and decisions with contextual relevance.

 

It is a question of arranging a balance between being firm on certain values and principles and at the same time being flexible and willing to conform to certain obligations.

 

Trying hard to be great in whatever we do but be honest and humble enough to be grateful to whoever has helped us on the way to greatness, etc.

 

Being rooted in certain humane values and not hesitating to uproot anything that goes against those values even if they have been part of our society or culture.

 

Being useful to all others around us everywhere without allowing ourselves to be misused or abused by others.

 

Synchronizing our intentions and actions without pretensions.

 

Being involved without interfering.

 

Living life, enjoying every moment of it rather than merely passing through different motions of existence as if life itself were an obligation made up of several parts.

 

I like Zen principles, which teach many of these things.

 

No matter what we do, we must ensure minimum hurt to others in all aspects (emotional, psychological, physical, etc.), especially at least to those who are part of our extended self—our parents, children, spouse[s], colleagues, society, countrymen, and the whole of the human race and environment, and it can extend beyond these too.

 

Everyone and everything are some points of reference in life and not a pointless object to be treated with indifference.

 

In brief, we must ensure that we are the subject and subject matter of life and understand how we are interrelated and interconnected with others.

 

We must not allow ourselves to be looked upon as an object—an object that can perform a certain function—because in that case it is only logical that a better-performing object can always replace us.

 

This is how even relationships are getting ruined; there is nothing wrong with expectations, but what are the expectations and what is the extent of them?

 

Present-day marriages are negotiated like contracts with specifications of one being a decorated doll or ATM? It would be better to have them rather than get into a relationship with another human being. The society needs to rethink.

 

This is also one of the reasons why senior citizens are not treated with love and affection because we feel that as an object they are less useful, less attractive, etc., but fail to realize they were the very substance of our lives; they were the ones who guided us through life; they were the pillars of support on which we grew, etc.

 

We can be engaged in any activity, but ensure to prioritize with contextual relevance, which again is a sign of a composed mind.

 

Contextual relevance must preferably be the predominant feature/factor of our choices and decisions at any point of time.

 

Here is sample on acid test I wrote a few years ago

http://idiomsidiomsalltheway.blogspot.in/2012/03/14ultimate-proofacid-test.html

 

"Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune." - Chanakya

 

So, a mind can be composed even amid the worst calamities and catastrophes if only it learns the art of balancing. It is okay for human beings, being a species that is primarily animal, to have certain momentary aberrations and annoyances and to keep certain values in abeyance, but they must not become a permanent feature of life or culture or society.