Calm Amidst Chaos

Life is a series of challenging experiences. We are living in an age of conflict and chaos. How to remain calm is a vital skill towards better decision-making, success, happiness, creativity & love. Calm mind produces a brighter intellect. This talk is about remaining calm amidst chaos through 'stabilizers' & 'Anchors'

Hear the Podcast on Calm Amidst Chaos 

Points covered in the talk are mentioned below

n  Calm mind is a

happy mind

efficient mind

loving mind

strong mind

spiritual mind

n  What is to be calm amidst chaos?

To maintain clarity inspite of circumstances

To maintain balance inspite of overwhelming emotions

To act efficiently taking rational decisions

n  Calm & Sharp

  When the mind is calm, intellect is sharper & decisions are rational, right and rewarding. 

n  Mind Management – Geeta Ch.6

Fickle (chanchal)

Impulsive (pramaathi)

Attached (Balavad)

Unyielding (Drdham)

Solution: Practise (Abhyasa)

Solution: Attitude (Vairagya)

n  Calm-Center

Handling Impulsive reactions & provocative situations

n  We need ‘stabilizers’ holding on to which the mind can wither the storm.

Handling crisis & serious situations

n  We need an ‘Anchor.’ The mind can find its strength and balance by centering in a right attitude

n  Stabilizers

Delay your response. Don’t deny.

Om Shantih Shantih Shantih

Don’t ask – “WHY?”  ask – “How?”

Breath-Observation. Deep breathing.

Inspiring Ideal

Cultivate Tolerance & patience.

n  Act, don’t react.  Mark, don’t remark. 

Mantra & Mantram-Walk

n  Prevents psychological build-up

n  Turns destructive energy into constructive channels. 

n  Brings us back to the present

n  Access to deeper reserves of Peace

n  Gives us time to get back to objectivity.

Personal Vs Impersonal

n  Taking things personally Ego gets hurt.

If our idea is rejected, we feel rejected.

If the child does not listen to ME, I get angry. Not because of not listening but because he did not listen to ME.

n  Anchors- Attitude

1.     Who am I?

2.     Acceptance

3.     Karma

4.     Visualization & Meditation

5.     Faith & Surrender

6.     Minimize Likes & dislikes

n  Who am i? – Anchor 1

1.     What is my identity and the role I am playing?

2.     I am a seeker – 24 x 7

3.     Mature response as a seeker

4.     Witness – Highest attitude

n  Acceptance – Anchor 2

1.     Resistance to what life brings to us creates agitation.

2.     Life will bring varied experiences to everyone.   We must accept life as it is and flow with the flow. 

3.     “Maatra sparshastu kaunteya….
  Aagamaah apaayinah anityaah taan titikshasva.”      -Gita Ch.II.14

n  Acceptance Mantra

n  Don’t Insist & Resist.

n  Expect & Accept.
 

n  Karma - Anchor 3

n  What has come to me is my own past karma.

n  Let me go through the results in dignity. 

n  Through my present self-effort I can create a glorious future.

n  No one can take from me what I deserve.
No one can give me what I don’t.

n  Visualization & Practise -Anchor 4

n  Company of people who are calm, steady & strong.

n  Visualize being calm & composed. 
Don’t visualize reactions, being angry, giving it back…… it’s a sign of weakness

n  Meditation

n  Daily meditation helps to build reserves of peace and anchors us in Calmness

n  Recognize that you are beyond thoughts and don’t let thoughts persecute you

n  Faith & Surrender - Anchor 5

n  Cosmic Intelligence knows what is best for me. 

n  I accept everything as HIS will and HIS Prasad. 

n  “Let thy will be done.”

n  What we want is not….
…………………. what we always need. 
God knows our need.   

n  Anchor 6 - Minimize Likes & Dislikes

n  Even if lighted, Cracker will never burst if there is no gun-powder inside.

n  Likes & dislikes are the gunpowder. 

n  We never experience the world as it is.  Our experiences are colored by our own Raaga & Dvesha (Likes & Dislikes). 

n  Strong likes and dislikes make us rigid.

n  Our entire life goes in chasing what we like and running away from what we don’t.

n  “Tayoh na vasham aagacchet. Tau hyasya paripanthinau”                     -Gita III.34 
Likes and Dislikes are the robbers of peace. Never come under their sway.

n  Identify the strong likes & dislikes. Consciously work on diluting them.

n  Swami Vivekananda said – “Everyday do one thing which u dislike (which is righteous & beneficial)” 

n  Tapas & Vrata are meant for this.

n  Mind-Balance

n  Like a Doll or swinging toys

n  Tapped from various sides they swing.

n  Get back to balance quickly

n  Summary - Stablisers

Om shantih shantih shantih

Deep breathing

Tolerance & Patience

Inspiring Ideal

Delay your response

Mantram walk

Ask “HOW” not ‘Why?’

n  Anchors- Attitude

1. Who am i?
2. Acceptance
3. Karma
4. Visualisation & Meditation
5. Faith & Surrender
6. Minimize Likes & dislikes