Living in Equilibrium

Most of us are usually in various stages of anxiety, stress, dissatisfaction or unhappiness. The result of this are behaviours like cribbing, hurting others or pessimism. If we try and identify the reason, it is this – we are constantly trying to reach a state of total satisfaction or happiness. We tell ourselves that we if reach this or that goal, we will become happy. But when we reach that goal, we realize that the bliss is still far away. Probably the answer to our quest lies in understanding the duality of the universe.

The Almighty has created counter balancing forces of day & night, fire & water, male & female, flowers & thorns, life & death, liquid & solid, matter & anti matter, joy & sorrow, good & bad, optimism & pessimism.. the list can go on. The counter balance or equilibrium between these dual forces is what keeps the universe going. Example.. imagine we were to remove the female species. We will soon cease to exist. Similarly if we have only days, then again we will perish. If there were no thorns, the flowers will perish. Similarly, if there was no sorrow, joy will cease to exist.

I believe that we fail to read what the almighty has always wanted to tell us – accept the duality of life. The "Symbol of Natraj" - a dual form of Shiva & Shakti symbolises this. Learn to live in equilibrium. Learn to balance. Don’t run from one to the other. Learn to be in the center. Every situation has two sides to it – some joy & some sorrow. If we look at every situation in our life, you will see this duality in existence. Our dissatisfaction is because we are ready to accept only one side. For instance.. Joy & not its counter balancing force.. sorrow. Therefore we tend to be unhappy or anxious.

I think the key lies in accepting that we if want joy, we will have to learn to accept sorrow with it. Learn to accept that there will never be hundred percent complete joy or complete sorrow. Every situation will bring both of it together.

Living in equilibrium is the best way to be. Probably, this realization will prepare our minds to deal with life and its duality and help us get on with it.