Cultivating healthy, benign indifference

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Cultivating healthy, benign indifference

K VIJAYARAGHAVAN

 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2005 01:57:14 AM]

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Bernard Shaw observed: "Indifference is worse than hatred." However,

well-placed indifference is healthy unlike hatred, which is always

damaging.

 

The key to obtaining this supreme virtue is found in Patanjali's Yoga

Sutras (I, 33), where he exhorts the aspirant to cultivate the

appropriate approach, in the prescribed order, to different aspects

of life — friendliness to those that bring enduring happiness,

compassion to the suffering, delight to the virtuous and indifference

(upekshana) to the unholy and the farcical.

 

In fact genuine involvements not only with the good and virtuous but

also with those who deserve compassion invariably enrich the mind

with noble thoughts whereby the aspirant naturally develops a studied

detachment from misery-generating pursuits.

 

This is actually the practical realisation of a Vedic prayer, which

means, "Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides (Rig Veda- I, 89-

i). The mind, not being idle or sluggish, is no more a devil's

workshop and is neither attached to nor affected by unworthy aspects

around.

 

This situation is very much the same as the one conceived by William

Wordsworth in his Tintern Abbey Lines. He observes how the heart

which loves nature would always obtain and behold blessings, not ever

being affected by "evil tongues, rash judgments, sneers of selfish

men nor greetings where no kindness is."

 

 

This manner of "beholding blessings" is referred to by Patanjali as

chttaprasadanam, felicity of mind. This also is santosha, which an

ancient Sanskrit verse terms as "the only supreme wealth of man." One

in possession of this untainted blessing knows how to act, react,

interact, talk, feel and think. He obtains the right attitude of

repose to all aspects around.

 

He has those who he loves much and who love him in turn; he however

doesn't identify all his self with just a few. He takes genuine

interest on matters around. He doesn't compromise. He wouldn't

complain if one who he trusted well were to let him down, but he

wouldn't be foolish to play into others' hands.

 

This is authenticity born of inner convictions, assertiveness and a

healthy ego — the hallmarks of one who is balanced and consistent,

the sthithaprajna (Bhagawad Gita: II-55-60). Indeed the virtue of

benign indifference to the retarding forces and even an enlightened

selfishness differentiate the sthithaprajna from the ordinary!

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