Evenminded endurance is called titiksha in Sanskrit. I have practised this mental neutrality. I have sat and meditated all night long in icy water in bitterly cold weather. Similarly, I have sat from morning till evening on the burning hot sands in India. I gained great mental strength by doing so. When you have practised such self-discipline, your mind becomes impervious to all disturbing circumstances. If you think you can’t do something, your mind is a slave. Free yourself.
I don’t mean that you should be rash. Try to rise above disturbances gradually. Endurance is what you must have. Whatever may be your trouble, make a supreme effort to remedy it without worry; and until it is resolved, practise titiksha. Isn’t this practical wisdom? If you are young and strong, then as you gradually strengthen your will and mind you can practise more rigid methods of self-discipline as I did.
If you are thinking that the winter weather is coming, and you are bound to catch cold, you are not developing mental strength. You have already committed yourself to certain weakness. When you feel you are susceptible to catching a cold, mentally resist: “Get away! I am following commonsense precautions, but I will not allow worry about it to invite the illness by weakening my mind.” This is the right mental attitude. In your heart, sincerely do your best at all times, but without anxiety. Worry only paralyses your efforts. If you do your best, God will reach down His hand to help you.
Sleep is a blessing, because no matter what your troubles are, you are free from them when you are asleep. Learn to be free consciously, during your waking hours. If you haven’t tasted sugar, you can’t know its sweetness; if you haven’t used the full potential of your mind, you do not realise its wondrous power.
In Washington, D. C., a young lady came to me and said, “I have chronic heart trouble. I have consulted a specialist, but I am getting no better. Is there any way you can help me?” I looked into her mind and felt what the trouble was. (You also can develop this intuitive power if you are calm and if you meditate deeply. There is no limit to what you can do with the innate power that God has given you.)
I said to the woman,” You have no heart disease. If ever I speak the truth, it is now. If you still have heart trouble tomorrow, you may say I was the greatest liar, and forget all about me. But I know that your ailment will be gone.”
“How?” she asked
I replied with a question: “Have you had a recent unhappy love affair, a very sad one?”
She was surprised. “Yes, how did you know?”
“Isn’t it true,” I went on, “that day and night you are thinking about that grievous experience?” She hung her head and admitted it was true. “You must give up your moping,” I told her. “The milk has been spilt; why cry now? Find someone who will appreciate your love. There is no sense in giving loyalty to an individual who doesn’t love you. Your former loved one is enjoying himself with someone else, and here you are hopelessly pining away for him.” She said she would try to forget him.” Not just try,”I insisted,” you must, this minute! Release this man from your mind.”
The woman was receptive; a short time later she came and told me, “You were right. The moment I stopped thinking about that man and about my unhappiness, my heartbeat became normal.”
If you counsel yourself in that way I have suggested to you today, if you do not acknowledge weakness in the face of troubles, and if you refuse to worry about your problems, you will find out how much more successful, peaceful, and happy you are. Through my own effort, I have realised this in my life. You should do the same. Daily, make this affirmation: “I will be neither lazy nor feverishly active. In every challenge of life, I shall do my best without worrying about the future.”
