“Maintain a neutral attitude towards all things; do not get infatuated with anything; maintain equanimity whether in happiness or suffering; be the same to friends and enemies; treat alike a broken piece of mud pot and a piece of gold.”
— Ramana Maharshi
After slaying Ravana, Rama says to his brother Lakshmana, “I want to go to the Himalayas and spend some time in Agastya Muni’s cave to repent for the great sin I have committed.”
Lakshmana was shocked! Hadn’t Ravana kidnapped Rama’s wife?
“Yes,” Rama replied. “He had nine heads filled with greed, jealousy, lust, and everything else. But one head had great wisdom and virtue. I would’ve liked to leave the head alone, but I couldn’t. For this, I am in great repentance.”
There is a powerful lesson here.
Our thoughts, words, and actions are often reactions to what happens around us. We are good to the people nice to us and spiteful to the mean ones. Pleasant events put us in a good mood while bad events bring out the worst in us.
This keeps you running in circles, living at the mercy of circumstance. But then, how will you move forward? How will you enhance your character and quality of life (yours and of those around you)?
Instead, like Rama, let your values dictate your thoughts and actions. Let those values get shaped by the person you want to be.
Treat a rude co-passenger the way you would treat a respectful flight attendant. Feel happy when your best friend gets into a relationship (even if it means she will give you less attention) the way you would feel when you bought a new phone. When others at work are busy fighting for turf, choose to remain useful.
This is how you will not be held ransom by events and people. This is how you will be true to yourself. And this is how you will find the reason why you were put on this earth.