Controlling Emotions
Question
Respected Dhananjay,
Though I have been following Brahmacharya to the best of my extent,although it is a struggle to keep oneself aligned, I realised sometimes the focus gets dissipated due to these emotions.
1. Anger - Many a times through the course of the day are such when anger seems like a tool to self-defence. If you might say anger is an impediment to Brahmacharya then how do we deal with day-to-day matters of facing rudeness, some sort of injustice or even aggressive behaviour from someone else. Should we just keep calm and smile back at them.
What if a person induces physical harm on us or someone in my family. Should I not be physically defending myself or the member then? Infact, if I don't react then it might be detrimental or it might be viewed as non-manly.
Also I wanted to know, that do such situation arise due to effect of some past karma?
2. Love - I know the love I will be talking about will be the worldly love. As from one of your past answers I have tried to contain this feeling but again I have fallen on my knees with an emotionally charged feeling of helplessness for someone. As I feel happy sometimes while thinking of or interacting with that person, the same way I get hurt when it doesn't happen.
I am sure these forms of emotions are not aligned with the practice of Brahmacharya, but they are so ubiquitous in the daily run of life,so how can one shun them?
Reverent Regards
Answer
1. No situation can be bettered using anger. It is the firmness & sureness in action that helps one achieve success, be it in any situation. The calm and controlled person alone has such confidence. Anger drains this surety and makes one weak and vulnberable. Terrible mistakes will be committed under the sway of anger. It is not the style of the wise. Hence anger should be chanellized into firmness and the situation handled with confidence using discretion and intelligence. When such a technique is practiced, even rude and excited people eventually come under control.
2. It is allright to defend, but one should not offend. Only those actions necessary to negate the situation and walk away make sense. Any other offense ends with suffering. Such action backed by wisdom is true manliness.
3. Every event in life is the product of karma.
4. Adhere to the honest practice of a life of Yoga & Brahmacharya and keep the body and mind occupied with physical exercise and constructive work. Practice much meditation. The feeling of helplessness and vulnerability as regards the opposite sex will eventually taper & wither away after a few years of such practice as and when the Yogi develops true wisdom. He then starts realizing this world & woman to be nothing but an illusion. Thereafter develops the greatest strength, mental clarity and peace of mind accompanied by the bliss of the Atman in meditation
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)