Mmmmmm a beautiful brisk sunny day as I look out the window, what not to be grateful for. Sure, there are a few things that I wanted to be different this week or at least I thought. If I didn't let go of the way things are I would have missed out on all the magical things in between. I noticed that its the state of my mind that stands in the way of happiness, joy, freedom, creation. As well, the new moon tomorrow, go with the flow, look at your truth and spiritual path.

I am presently reading the Jivamukti Yoga book and so thrilled to have added it to my life. I am reminded of many stories I have heard over the years or parts of the Bhagavad Gita that I often read and always see something I hadn't before. I want to share one story (for now) that I feel is an important one to experience many times over.

Equanimity of mind leads to freedom from anxiety. This concept is illustrated beautifully in the Bhagavad Gita. The Gita opens with Arjuna, the warrior, and Krishna, his chariot driver and counselor, on the battlefield preparing to go into battle. Arjuna is filled with anxiety at the prospect of going into battle because he knows that many of the soldiers of the opposing army are his relatives and teachers.
Arjuna wants to turn back. He doesn't want to fight. Krishna urges him on and tells him it is his job to fight. He is a soldier. He has been trained all his life to fight battles. He was born into this, as were his father and grandfather before him and their ancestors. It is the result of past karma.
Arjuna is overwrought with remorse, anger and confusion; his mind has become unbalanced. Krishna advises him that now is not the time to decide to change jobs. Krishna tells Arjuna: You are in a state of anxiety and have lost all equanimity of mind. If you are serious about changing professions, first gain equanimity of the mind, and then you can make decisions based on clarity and wisdom. You have spent lifetimes propelling into motion and it is not so easily changed. The course of one's life can be changed, but for change to be lasting it must come from inner transformation.
In the rest of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna teaches Arjuna yoga practices such as compassion toward others and devotion to God, which develop equanimity of the mind.

“One who has control over the mind is tranquil in heat and cold, in pleasure and pain, and in honor and dishonor; and is ever steadfast with the Supreme Self.”