The Master’s Guidance Continues
Acharya Mahendranath (The Master) |
Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.
Kundan Bhosale |
Q. How to stay calm and mentally strong during lockdown period or difficult time or any bad situation? Because we need to be patient in this situation. But we are losing our patience.
— Kundan Bhosale, Student of Keimoudo®— Moxsh® Martial Arts
Master’s Guidance: “I am not sure what you mean when you talk about losing patience and an inability to stay calm. What will you do if you completely lose patience? Will you start dancing at home? Will you rush out and climb the trees in your society? Besides, what were you doing before the lockdown that was so critically important that the world will now suffer because you are at home!” (The Master laughs!)
“Also, all those of us who are from this state, who have a proper house with running water and electricity, and enough food to sustain us for some time, and who are staying with our family should not be losing patience or mental strength. If our situation was like those of the migrant workers, who are away from their family, have no proper place to stay, no money and no food; for whom the availability of the next meal is a question mark, and who are dependent on NGOs (who are doing a good job) for each meal, then what would you have done? Think about everything before you use such terms like losing patience.
These words should not even enter your mind, because they make you weak. Please understand that these are concepts that have been borrowed or have been implanted in us from the society. When we use any such borrowed or implanted words without understanding, then problems do not get resolved. Instead they get multiplied.
If people have not yet understood the gravity of the situation or the deadliness of the virus, then I am very surprised! Just seeing news of the extent of the tragedy in countries like Italy, Spain, France, the UK, and the US etc. should knock some sense into us. Look at the alarming rate at which the virus is spreading. Look at the number of people losing their lives every day. Just watching that should be enough for us to understand the reason for the lockdown and the reason why we are at home.
Nobody is sitting at home by choice. It is not a compulsion either. We are at home because it is our duty and our responsibility towards ourselves, our family, and our society. But if we think of it as some kind of compulsion, burden or a draconian measure, then things like losing patience, calm, and mental strength, etc. come in our minds.
Having said that even I can understand that it is very difficult for people today to stay at home indefinitely and not go out. I can understand that people are worried about many things. Thoughts of the plights of daily wage earners, fear of scarcity of essential items like food etc. in the future, worries about the economy, job, and many more things keep coming in our minds. It is obvious and understandable. But we must bundle all these things together and keep it aside for now. We have no choice but to do that.
The whole world is worried about this situation. Doctors are working day and night to treat the patients. Scientists are working tirelessly to find a medicine for treatment or a vaccine. Governments are thinking of ways to sustain the economy in the best possible manner. But until such medicine is identified, a vaccine is discovered, or the virus calms down on its own, we have no choice but to wait it out and sit at home.
It has just been about a month and a half since the lockdown, but people have been growing anxious and aggressive from the very first day! I said this in my previous blog talk as well. That if we give in to our fears (of economy, daily sustenance, etc.), and go out, not follow the rules of the lockdown and other guidelines given by the government, then we will be in for very disastrous consequences. On the other hand, if we sit at home and have these thoughts—like losing patience and mental strength, etc.—it will affect our health and our immune system, which is very important for resuming our routine life after lockdown.
They say time heals. So, give this some time and develop understanding.
Become action oriented. Then when any situation presents itself—I do not say good or bad situation, because every situation is an opportunity to learn and grow—you will look at ways to work around it and get the best out of it. To help you come on the right track, developing understanding is the only way.
I have said this time and again: This is a golden opportunity. You have actually been given an opportunity to do nothing! Isn’t it the best gift and the best state to be in? You get to be yourself; to rejuvenate and refresh yourself.
But because you are not used to doing nothing, you are losing your patience. So, the next best thing to do is to keep yourself busy. And like I said at the beginning of the lockdown in my article “Don’t let the “Lockdown” Lock You Down!", there are many, many things you can do.
Right from spending time with your family, and learning new skills like cooking, doing domestic chores, studying, reading, or watching movies (preferably comedy movies and cartoons like Tom and Jerry, etc.); to using the internet to gain knowledge about a lot of things that are relevant to your job or career; watching informative documentaries on TV; and practicing martial arts and yoga regularly, there are so many things that you can do. I had asked all my students to make a time table. If you had done that, even 24 hours would not have been enough. You wouldn’t have had the time to lose patience. In fact, you would have enjoyed!
Life’s journey is a constant series of ups and downs and you need to be able to navigate both. Without sadness we cannot appreciate happiness. Without disease we cannot understand the value of health.
Let me give you an example. If you come across a steep rise while driving a car, what will you do? You will judge the steepness and then change gears. You will probably come down to 3rd, 2nd or even 1st gear depending on how steep the climb is. Life is like that. When situations change, you have to change your life’s gear to move forward.
Don’t demand things from life. Become sensible. If you get happiness for 365 days in a year, you will get bored. Similarly, if you get sadness all the time you will be fed up. But life is not like that. There is a balance. Otherwise we would not have valued anything. We would never have saved, or planned anything. We would have squandered everything away because we know we will get it tomorrow.
Finally, I want to give you one more example to deepen your understanding. You must have seen people climbing mountains—either for a reason or because they are mountaineers. You will notice that they have very less baggage. In fact, mountaineers have specially designed equipment that is extremely lightweight. Even if you add an extra kilo to it, it will make climbing that much harder.
This situation is just like climbing a mountain. And you need to keep yourself light. Patience, calm, mental strength, and other things like fear of death, economy, boredom, frustration, etc. all add up to hundreds of kilos and you will get exhausted.
Throw these terms out of your mind. They are the rubbish that are holding you back. Your body and mind are the temple of your soul and it is a gift from God. And just like we leave our footwear outside temples to keep it clean and pure, leave these words and thoughts out too.
In such situations, people often ask me whether meditation techniques or mantras etc. can help them develop patience, become calm, gain mental strength, release stress, and get peace of mind. I tell them that meditation and mantras are for divine purpose and not for solving these problems. But still, if people will do meditation or mantra chanting, they will get some temporary feeling of relief. But as soon as they are out of that state, the thoughts will come back because the root cause of the above problems is still there within. And so, it is important to get to the root of the problem in order to completely uproot it.
And everything I have said in this BlogTalk has been to do just that. Everything I have told you is to make you understand and every example I have given you has been to help you to get to the root cause and permanently get rid of these thoughts. Then you will automatically find the strength and understanding to live life in all circumstances."
In this Tricky and difficult situation it is very important to have a direction to follow. Thank you master for the valuable course correction and realigning our GPS (Geared Psychological Senses)
ReplyDeleteThank you Master ji..�� Actually i asked this question cause I am away from my home living here for job..Yes getting food is problem for me.i cooked breakfast and rice since 20 March when lockdown start...I want to go home but didn't get permission so can't reach at home(pune). I am practicing yoga martial arts .. Meditation and it help me..
ReplyDeleteOm Namah Shivay!
ReplyDeleteMaster in this answer you have directly catched the nerves of all the problems and gave excellent examples for it.
To avoid such restless state of mind ,I work on my physical,mental health through yoga,MA. Also I do my office work rigorously with utter seriousness and also if some time remains I watch some informative youtube videos and stay away from the negative media news..For past 1 month i have kept myself so busy that I forgot Corona Virus is an issue and still existing..
With your blessings we are sure we can overcome this difficult times soon.
OM!
Om namah shivay Master
ReplyDeleteVery true extra baggage of anxiety fear insecurity makes situations exhausted.
It will definitely help to get rid of root cause.
Thanku Master for your valuable guidance it helps us alot๐๐ป
ReplyDeleteUnder your guidance this phase too will become a boon to the people as perspective to life and clarity about it is the only thing which decides the value of any situation.
ReplyDeleteThank you Master!
Thanks for your guidance & proper councellng.It will definitely be useful in our future life also.
ReplyDeleteI am Gauri Deshmukh here.
ReplyDeleteI have given the above-mentioned reply
ReplyDeleteOm Namah Shivay Master.
ReplyDeleteThank you for providing such apt examples to understand the situation in a better and easier way. Sometimes, while concentrating on things we are losing out on, we tend to overlook and not appreciate what we have. We are in a reasonably comfortable position with access to food, shelter and other basic needs for our living. We see in the news about so many people who are not this fortunate. As you have said, this is a rare opportunity to rejuvenate ourselves and stay safe rather than worry about the economy.
As for the first paragraph, I am going to have good laugh for quite some time. It is hysterical ๐๐
Om Namah Shivay Master,
ReplyDeleteRegular practice of Yoga, keep ourself occupied & busy are simple ways to train our mind to be more patient & cool.
It is very true that there is no compulsion, choice or burden on any citizens to stay & sitting at home but it's our responsibility towards ourselves, our family, and our society.
This could be a valuable opportunity for all of us to reconnect with the family and learn to share responsibilities.
Thank You Master.
Manoj Panaviya
Thank Master
ReplyDeleteThank u master
ReplyDeleteOM Namah Shivay!
ReplyDeleteThanks Master ๐ it's Truly A useful Guidence for All of us
Time will heals everything by everyone contributions.
Pritee Yadav!
Thank you master for your valuable guidance. It motivates us to deal with the situation.
ReplyDelete- Promita Ganguli.
Vaidehi Kulkarni
ReplyDeleteThank you Master
Thank you Master for your valuable guidance ๐
ReplyDeleteLavika Shaha
Thank u master
ReplyDeleteThank you master for your guidance
ReplyDeletethankyou
ReplyDeleteThank u master
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot master.
ReplyDeleteIt really helps us a lot.
Vidya vidyadhar Joshi
ReplyDeleteThank you Masterji for your guidance
Blessed to have such valuable knowledge!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Master ๐๐
-Tejas Chorge
Ketan wagh
ReplyDeleteThnx master for such grateful guidance
Thank you Master for the advice
ReplyDeleteOM namah shivay
ReplyDeleteYour words are showering like blessings.
Thank you Master.
OM
Rohan Thakur
DeleteThank you for Master for giving us clear understanding of this question. It's really interesting ,since we never stayed at home for these many days so that maybe reason for this ๐ . I agree master and our actions do affects others and overthinking only going to make it worse. Regular practice and good interaction with family or doing daily chores all these are enough to keep yourself busy and avoid such thoughts.
ReplyDeleteMaster, I have been experiencing the same thing. As asson as meditation is done, the thoughts come back. Keeping busy and doing practice is helping to avoid thoughts and keep my mind fresh.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Master for your guidance. Om.
Thankyou Master for the apt guidance!it us extremely important to apply these thoughts into our lives.
ReplyDeleteThank you master
ReplyDeleteI had also learnt this lessons from life that it gives sufferings and makes us to struggle a lot to heal from them for us and our loved ones. This days I am getting more that enough balanced life and now I can automatically understand lessons from my faults mistakes and failures and I am happy with all of them thus calming My life as a balanced life and I'm also having hope that in future I will learn a lot and explore life its process how it is, instead of blaming about its incompleteness by comparing it with others and thereby suffering us and our loved ones from our family.
Thank you Master.
ReplyDeleteThank you master ๐๐
ReplyDeleteOm Nama Shivay Master
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for todays teaching .Example of Mountaineer is so pertinent to be implied. Now days we are habitual to be stressed all the time even if it is alot to celebrate we keep on worrying . I learned very important lesson to keep myself calm.
Everything you said is true,perhaps something we already know but forget from time to time.We do meditation, listen to good stuff,but unless we don't accept this situation entirely,we won't have patience,which is only going to trouble us!
ReplyDeleteThank you Master, these guidelines will definitely help and motivate to rise up from this dark situation. India is defending corona at its best and surely never back down like other countries.
ReplyDeleteVivek Patil
Thank You Master.
ReplyDeleteOm Namah Shivay
เคเคฎ् เคจเคฎः เคถिเคตाเคฏ, เคฎाเคธ्เคเคฐ เคตेเคณोเคตेเคณी เคเคฎ्เคนाเคฒा เคฎाเคฐ्เคเคฆเคฐ्เคถเคจ เคเคฐเคฃ्เคฏाเคธाเค ी เคงเคจ्เคฏเคตाเคฆ! เคคुเคฎเค्เคฏा เค เคฎुเคฒ्เคฏ เคฎाเคฐ्เคเคฆเคฐ्เคถเคจाเคฎुเคณे เคเคฎ्เคนी เคฏा เคฌिเคเค เคชเคฐिเคธ्เคฅिเคคीเคฒा เคธंเคฏเคฎाเคจे เคธाเคฎोเคฐे เคाเคค เคเคนोเคค.
ReplyDeleteเคงเคจ्เคฏเคตाเคฆ เคฎाเคธ्เคเคฐ, เคเคฎ!
Om Namah Shivai Master
ReplyDeleteThankyou so much master for giving such nice examples so that we can understand so easily.
Om Namah Shivay Master!
ReplyDeleteYour answer acts like a bitter medicine which tastes unpleasant at first but when we take it in and let it have its effect, it turns out to be a boon. While answering this questions you've covered so many topics about how we should be carrying ourselves through the lockdown. I can relate to the importance of maintaining a schedule totally. Nowadays, I've been keeping myself so busy that I've actually started feeling there should've been more time in a day. It's a testimony to how your approach and your decisions change the way your mind thinks. Lastly, I'd like to say that the time I spend every day alone, with myself has helped me rise above all the negative clutter and overhyped chaos and be at peace with myself. Your advice always comes as a soothing breeze in scorching heat. Thank you once again!
P.S. Best wishes to all of you on this significant day of Buddha Paurnima!!!
Thank u master for your valuable guidance. This will help us not only in the lockdown but also in future. This teaches us not to be impatient while facing the problem but to find out the root of the problem and should try to find solution.I liked the example of driving a car on steep road. It signifies a deep meaning. Thank u Master. Om
ReplyDeleteThank you Master ๐
ReplyDeleteThank you master for your guidance...
ReplyDeleteThanks for guidance
ReplyDeleteThank you Master for guidance on this topic.
ReplyDeleteexample of changing gears, resembles to this situation of life cycle.
By keeping busy ourselves we can overcome of unnecessary worries, negative thoughts.
By practicing martial arts and doing my office work for 10-12 hrs, I'm least bother about Lockdown and Corona.
Regards,
Snehdeep Patil
Thank you master
ReplyDeleteThank you Master. As much as I do miss class, learning and nailing a new asana everyday, finding the hidden aspects of martial techniques is what keeps me busy. Even practising four times a day is not enough I feel. 24 hours seem so less when you have so much on your platter.
ReplyDeleteSaanika Karnik
DeleteThank you master for your advice ๐๐
ReplyDeleteThank you master for the valuable guidance.
ReplyDeleteThank You Master
ReplyDeleteThank You Master.
ReplyDeleteOm Namah Shivay
Very truly said. It is very important to maintain the sanity of our mind in times of such crises. One has to be patient and calm and not let the stress and negative thoughts hover over one's mind and soul. These hard times are the true tests of life and they train our mind and body to be strong. Thank you Master.
ReplyDeleteOm Namah Shivay
ReplyDeleteBy keeping busy ourselves in practice and studies i cn overcome of unnecessary thought.the regular yoga practice in morning and evening martial arts session helps to keep my mind fresh and busy.
Thank you master for your precious advice๐๐
Pandurang gawas
Thank you Master for such enlightening words.
ReplyDeleteSwagata Chakraborty
Parent of Indrayudh and Srihan
This is so helpful as things get quite messy sometimes. Thank you Master for all the guidance. OM.
ReplyDeleteAvani
Thank you master for your precious advice๐๐
ReplyDeleteThanks Master
ReplyDeleteThank you master
ReplyDeleteIt is actually a golden opportunity to doing nothing externally but doing something internally.
ReplyDeleteThank you Master for guidance ��
Naresh Patil.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThank you master
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Master!
ReplyDelete-Snehal Pawar
The best closer look by the master towards our psychology in situation like this..๐ language is so natural and simple that i can imagine Master literally..as master always talk to me looking directly into my eyes ๐ต๐...and major missing is Humor created by master to relieve stress of mind..๐
ReplyDeleteThank you Master for the guidance.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Prashant Rao
Om Namah Shivay Master
ReplyDeleteYour guidance for Yoga , Reiki & Blog talk help to face current situation.
As per your guidelines, regular practice developed positive attitude during this lockdown period.
Thank you Master
Yatin Gupte
Om
Thank you Master for the healing words. We are grateful to have you.
ReplyDeleteThe only compulsion on us should be to do the right thing,in any situation.
ReplyDeleteWe choose to stay at home, because that is the right thing to do, right for us and right for the society at large.
Know what is right and do what is right,for the greater good.
Once we have decided that staying at home is the right thing to do, spending time rightly can find many avenues.
Thank you.
There are too many people who is loosing their patience due to certain circumstances,but it's all about how we are looking at this situation.I asked few people about lockdown, my grandmother is very happy with lockdown. She is like whole family together for all days,in Normal days it won't happen.
ReplyDeleteI asked one of my uncle he is like lockdown is good I am getting time for myself. I can do whatever I want to do.
So, according to me it's all about how we are looking at the situation. And Master gave very good example for better understanding.This guidance will truly help us to improve ourselves.
Om Namah Sivaya Master,
ReplyDeleteIt is so true that these very words bring us down. Following the timetable works so well that we can actually stay busy all day long. We do need to take life as it comes and not label situations as 'good' or 'bad'.
Thank you very much for such a profound guidance.
Regards,
Harsha - Om
Thank you Master for explaining us with nice examples and your touch humour.
ReplyDeleteIt is really funny how when colleges,offices were on everyone wished that they could stay at home for a few days and enjoy and now that we have it everyone has started losing patience and wants to go back! Truly this lockdown where many migrant workers are not sure of their daily meals and our doctors, health care workers working 24×7, we should be grateful for everything we have and live in the moment rather than filling our mind with excess baggage of terms like losing patience.
Thank you Master.
ReplyDeleteYour guidance really helpful during this situation.
It motivate me especially when I'm on Duty.
Thank You Master for your Guidance during these tough times.
ReplyDeleteThank u Master
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Masterji. The examples you have mentioned are very helpful to understand the things in depth. Thank you again.๐
ReplyDeleteThank you Master
ReplyDeleteThank you Master
ReplyDeleteThank You Sir
ReplyDeleteThank you Master
ReplyDelete