Do we really need a stable -balanced mind?

This blog is written for the weekly prompt on Indiblogger #358

I’m convinced that  pop Glossop is a sadist.

I mean who pop’s up a question like

“how do you evolve yourself into a person with a well balanced and stable mind>” at 12 noon, when the stomach is growling and bladder is bursting.  I thought we were done with such torture when we finished with college, but then here it is up again, and at the same idiotic time, the saving grace is the freedom to much and use the restroom is there.

Chits, (Chitra as her birth certificate says) of course snorts, ‘balance mindaah.. yenna adu? intention+ opinion)²=(intention)²+(opinion)²+ 2intentions-opinion.  Apdiya…it is sheer nonsense I say”.

When Chits delivers a decree, Chats has to do her addendum. Chats for those who don’t know her is Charulatha. “ille-amma we are talking about  even distribution, no free radicals kind of stuff. Stable basically means something firmly established.”

So we tried permutations and combinations

Balance+ stable =

• Even distribution of weight+ not readily altering chemical makeup or physical state.
• Equilibrium + a place where animals are sheltered.

Our debate on equilibriums and stability took a toss when our attention was grabbed by the ID-coffee decoction coffee that we were sipping. Though not as good as home brewed panduranga coffee, or the coffee from Ram Bhavan it is a near contender.

honestly if a place where animals are sheltered has equilibrium  it is stagnant. Or the power equation of the herd has been formed. This is of course a good space to be in.

But stable in itself would mean firmly established, not readily altering in chemical makeup or physical state. Resisting forces that tend to cause motion or change of motion.

While mind means memory, intention, opinion, view, disposition, mood, intellectual ability, attention.   It would be interesting to know

Do we want to dwell firmly in the past? Of course that is what we do for its from our past experience that we take decisions with regard to our future.

Do we want set intentions that cannot be changed because we resist forces that cause the change or bring about motions?

Don’t we all adhere to opinions  firmly established within us that prevents us from being creative.

At the end of the day was is balance and stability of mind? Who defines it?

In a herd we have the social structure of the herd, the economic state of the herd,  education status of the herd and finally the religious belief of the herd that creates an acceptable behaviour. This also forms the boundary of the herd.  By and large it is this boundary that gives us what is acceptable or normal with regard to our herd.

As long as an individual’s behaviour does not disturb this boundary and the territorial rights of the alpha of the tribe we call the person stable, balance, normal.etc. etc.

Interestingly in Sanskrit the word for mind and horse is the same that is “ashwa” for me a balanced stable mind comes from here.  the mind is at a state of peace, call it shanta or still better shunya. It commits itself to an experience or task and performs it, calling on all the behaviour and emotions that is required. Experiencing and executing each without judging at the end being comfortable with the outcome even if it is not what is desired.  This also forms the base of the Rasa theory of Abhinavagupta in Natyashastra.

How do we achieve it. By starting each day with setting an intention for the day. And ending the day with dedicating the outcome of our thoughts and action to the eternal consciousness. This is  incidentally the path of compassionate wisdom.

So now tell me what were you asking about balanced stable mind?