He Who is Steadfast in Pleasure and Pain ...

He was sitting in a conference room surrounded by his peers who were involved in a discussion and nobody asked him for his opinion. He realized that asserting his presence would only lead to interference. He just wasn't in the flow of things and he noticed how his energy level was dropping. He did what he always did in those situations, he raised his imaginary baseball bat and as he tighten his grip he felt the power coming back to him.

Within just an hour the table had been turned completely. He was in a new conference room with new people and everybody was seeking his opinion. He was on a roll. As the blood was rushing through his head his perception had turned to tunnel vision. He didn't even notice the different colleagues anymore. All he could do was to address the 'crowd' with his improvised speech.

What comes to mind when you read this story? The tables did turn for this friend in a short time, but somehow you cannot help concluding that he has a problem in both situations. In the first, by not being able to just absorb what the others are discussing without minding that he is not involved. In the second, by being unable to objectively observe his environment because he is too much in love with his own performance.

The Gita writes "The calm man who is the same in pleasure and pain alone is able to attain to immortality."  This advice is often misinterpreted in my opinion as is seems to encourage indifference and stoicism. It is not about downplaying or ignoring the feelings within you, it is about being mindful of the emotional waves as they rise and fall. When you really monitor what is going on inside you, this very act of reflection calms the waves down as they develop. As Lord Krishna said, The mindful man who is the same in pleasure and pain, he is dear to me.