A request and a disclaimer: Before you begin to read this blog, request you to first read the 3 parts of ‘Stroke in the canvas called ‘The Value of Values’. You may also choose to read the blogs on the values of amAnitvam, adambhitvam and ahimsA (the value of ahimsA is in three parts) kshAntiH, Arjavam, AchAryopAsanam and Saucam though they are not a prerequisite to reading this value. The language and explanations used by pUjya swAmiji is so profound, that I wish I do justice by aligning my understanding to his explanation, as I parallelly try to relate it to day to day living.. Any error in the way I have blogged upon these values, is due to an error in my understanding alone.
Sthairyam (the ‘ai’ in sthairyam is pronounced as ‘y’ as in ‘fry’) has a range of meanings and each one is as interesting as the others. It means firmness or steadiness or constancy or perseverance or steadfastness. As I read and visualise the meanings, each one of them sounds so profound.
The goal could be towards mokshA which means liberation or freedom from desires. While both liberation and freedom from desires are the same, the way the latter is worded makes it look plausible and achievable though idealistic it may seem :-). This is one aspect that this blog WILL NOT focus on as I do not have the requisite knowledge to write on it.
The goal could also be towards one’s responsibilities or duties or what one has committed oneself to achieve and having desires as well. This is the aspect that this blog WILL focus on.
All of us or rather should I say most of us, start with a positive intent of achieving what we set out to. After the first few steps or mid way or sometimes just before we achieve what we committed to, we stop our journey that we set out on. The reasons for this could be many – fear of failure, a sense of being overwhelmed, lack of motivation, inability to handle obstacles, past experiences, distractions, procrastination to name a few. This results in helplessness, frustration and perhaps a sense of being a failure. To go beyond this and to be steadfast, firm, constant, to persevere and achieve one’s goal (s) is what is sthairya.
– Can any of us call ourselves as a person who is not capable of achieving what we committed ourselves to? Would that be a fair statement to make as we may have achieved a few things that we set out to, but maybe not as many as we would like to?
– What was the reason for us to achieve what we committed to?
– What stopped us from achieving what we set out to – this could be goal (s), duties, responsibilities?
– Which of the above mentioned reasons are responsible for this?
– Who is the controller of these reasons?
These questions run riot in my mind as I travel back to the times when I have achieved some of my goals and the times when I have failed to achieve them. When I failed to achieve them I lacked sthairya. I allowed myself to be bogged down by these reasons. When I achieved them, I had sthairya and the reasons had no value because I REFUSED to give it a value. What I thought is what made the difference!
Ah!! What a moment this is!! To become aware and conscious of the fact that I have sthairyam but I may not have it to the frequency and intensity that may be needed. Which one of the reasons stopped me / is stopping me from achieving what I committed myself to or what I set out to?
As you read this blog, please spend some time to mull over the goal (s) that you had set for yourself. Sure enough, you would have achieved some of them and you may not have achieved some of them.
– How firm were you in what you wanted to achieve?
– How steady were your steps?
– What did you do with the obstacles that came in the way of achieving the goal (s)?
– Which one of the reasons contributed to it?
Answers to these questions will determine your sthairyam quotient (Can’t resist saying this:-)) and makes me wonder what my sthairyam quotient is 🙂
May 11, 2017 at 11:58 pm
One may see that this value is in the logical sequence of acquisition after, ensuring purity in thought,speech and action (saucham) and unwavering-faith-prompted observation by sitting near the-guide-by-conduct (AchAryopAsanam) and straightforwardness in approach (Arjavam).
Therefore, the next logical value of ‘sThairyam’ will definitely indicate steadfastness. The steadfastness has two aspects is what we have to be constantly aware of:
1. The goal towards which we are pursuing (becoming KseTrajna-or knower of the KsheTra or the bodily tool we are presently endowed with in our journey) and
2. The ways and means we have chosen (no need to qualify that this has to have the same requirements of value pre-requisites).
In the case of first, the steadfastness will have to be absolute, notwithstanding obstacles encountered. The goal can’t be compromised.
In the case of the second, there could be necessities for course correction as we go along, changes arising therefrom doesn’t mean we are not steadfast and therefore we should never mind discarding that require improvement. Here in the case of means the steadfastness would be confined to non-compromise on values. In the steadfastness to the goal, the means can get corrected or improved within the confines of values.
If the above is clear, then we will look at ‘reasons’ dispassionately and make course corrections without any mental blocks.
The sThairyam quotient is always in relation to ‘goal’ only and not related to ‘course corrections’.
It also does n’t matter if the goal is not achieved within one’s present bodily life (called as yogabrashta or discontinuance of engagement) as whatever progress in yoga made in this life span is always thenceforth carried over to the next embodiment as the DaivI-sampaT (laudable abstract credits thus far assembled) in the ATman.
One may raise a question whether it is logical to assume this way?
BhagavaTgITa (detailing the need for values), which is the very basis on which the subject matter is being discussed, very clearly and categorically holds this (Please refer to ch II and ch VI. This is the only feature, faith in which alone will ensure sThairyam in goal. Therefore, to ignore that aspect and discuss will be improper and useless.