TITIKSHA (FORBEARANCE)
1. Outline
Titikshā enables the seeker to become free from all
opposites, dualities, extremes, and complexities. It enhances the ability to
endure hardships with patience and equanimity. It is a virtue that encourages
individuals to cultivate inner strength and stability, allowing them to
navigate through life's challenges with grace and composure. In the context of
spiritual practise, titikshā involves
developing mental resilience and equanimity in the face of challenges or
adversities. Titikshā encourages
individuals to cultivate patience, acceptance, and a broader perspective on
life's ups and downs. It is all about expanded awareness, inner vision, and
heightened perception. It emphasises one's awareness or attaining a higher
state of consciousness. It refers to a state of heightened awareness, or
self-awareness. It is also to perceive and reflect upon one's own thoughts,
emotions, and experiences.
Titikshā doctrine is said to be forbearance, humility,
purity, straightforwardness, truth, restraint, celibacy, asceticism,
renunciation and non-possession. Anything that is undesirable for oneself is
not to be done to others by the actions of [body,] speech, and mind, even in a
dream—such is the principal characteristic of the doctrine.
Adi Sankaracharya in Vivekchudamani
defines Titikshā (तितिक्षा) as:
sahanaṃ
sarvaduḥkhānāmapratīkārapūrvakam |
cintāvilāparahitaṃ
sā titikṣā nigadyate || 24 ||
The bearing of all afflictions
without caring to redress them, being free (at the same time) from anxiety or
lament on their score, is called Titikṣā or forbearance. It
is that character by which the seeker complains not against existing conditions, does not make an
adverse remark about prevailing circumstances, and does not feel agony about
existing situations.
Practising titikṣā
involves recognising the impermanence and ever-changing nature of worldly
experiences. It encourages individuals to detach themselves from the outcomes
and fluctuations of external events, focusing instead on developing inner
strength and stability. By cultivating titikṣā, seekers strive to overcome
the tendencies of attachment, aversion, and emotional reactivity, leading to a
greater sense of inner peace and contentment.
Titikshā is often associated with the practise of
meditation and mindfulness, as these techniques help individuals develop the
capacity to observe their thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgement
or immediate reaction. Through regular practise, one can gradually develop a
calm and steady mind, enabling them to face challenges with patience,
forbearance, and resilience.
2. Scriptures
The concept of Titikshā
is ingrained in the cosmic principle. The cosmos is orderly,
harmonious, and systematic. The cosmic order, in vedic philosophical parlance, "Ṛta" (Sanskrit ऋत ), is subscribed to Satya (Truth), followed by Dharma (a righteous
order or way of life). The human mind is inclined to change any unfavourable
situation or circumstances that are not in congruity with his sense
perceptions. But the cosmic principles ordain that energy not be wasted in such
a manner in creating comfortable circumstances, favourable conditions, and a
pleasant environment. Swami Krishnananda appropriately says there will be very
little time left for us to construct an inner life of our own. While being busy
with the facilities of outer life, we are likely to ignore the good of inner
life. But the argument may come forth: "Are we not to contribute our might
to changing conditions so that our lives may become easier and happier?"
The spiritual attitude to things is a little different from the normal attitude
of people in regard to the world. The spiritual attitude is supernormal and not
the usual sensate outlook that the man in the street entertains in regard to
his personality as well as to outer conditions.
In the elevation process,
the seeker needs to put all his energies into realising or being conscious of the
Supreme Cosmic Spirit, or Absolute Reality, that pervades every atom, being,
and realm of the cosmos. It is beyond time-space-causation. It is eternal,
omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. At best, it can be described as Sat-Chit-Anand (Truth-Consciousness-Bliss). It can
be best described as infinite Being, infinite Consciousness, and infinite
Bliss.
Vedantasara proclaims Titikshā
is the endurance of heat and cold and other pairs of opposites. It refers to
being unruffled by pleasure and pain, arising from heat and cold, which are the
inevitable associates of the body, by meditating on the Pure Self, which is
always free from these dual throngs.
The Srimad Bhagavad Gita
eloquently proclaims the fleeting perceptions of happiness and distress when
contact is established between the senses and sense objects. These are
non-permanent and come and go, like the winter and summer seasons. One must
learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.
mātrā-sparśhās tu kaunteya śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ
āgamāpāyino ’nityās tans-titikṣhasva
bhārata
The Ishavasya Upanishad
aphoristically says, He pervaded all, resplendent, bodiless, scatheless, having
no muscles, pure, untouched by sin; far-seeing, omniscient, transcendent,
self-sprung, (he) duly allotted to the various eternal creators their
respective functions.
sa
paryagācchukramakāyamavraṇamasnāviraṃśuddham apāpaviddham |
kavirmanīṣī
paribhūḥ syayambhūryāthātathyato'rthānvyadadhācchāśvatībhyaḥ samābhyaḥ || 8 ||
Swami Krishnananda, in
his commentary on the Ishavasya Upanishad, says that for all times to come,
provisions have been made by the Creator in such a dexterous manner that they
shall come to the people who are really in need of them at the appropriate
hour. The universe is like a general store, and it has everything in it. It
lacks nothing. There is no need to invent or create anything for one's
practical existence. They have only to be summoned into action. The process by
which these resources of the world are summoned into action with respect to the
world or the created beings is also already determined.
3. Remarks
People with an insatiable desire may constantly seek out new experiences, possessions, or achievements in
an attempt to fulfil their longing. However, regardless of how much they
attain, they still feel a sense of emptiness or dissatisfaction, leading them
to continuously chase after more.
Titikshā can be seen as an act of kindness and
understanding. It encourages seekers to have a correct appreciation of values
and an understanding of the true nature of beings; the power to endure existing
circumstances comes about automatically. It involves exercising restraint and
refraining from retaliating or seeking revenge when faced with an offence or
wrongdoing. It encourages seekers to approach conflicts or disagreements with a
calm and empathetic attitude, seeking resolution or understanding rather than
escalating the situation.
Titikshā is associated with spiritual and ethical
practises where seekers strive to cultivate virtues such as temperance,
self-control, and moderation. can also be associated with the practise of
self-restraint and self-discipline. It involves consciously choosing to abstain
from indulging in harmful or unhealthy behaviours and exercising moderation in
one's actions and desires. It encourages seekers to exercise patience,
tolerance, and self-restraint in various aspects of life. It promotes
understanding, compassion, and the ability to navigate challenging situations
with grace and composure.
Swami Krishnananda emphatically says, "We cannot ordinarily see impersonality; we think in terms of bodies at all times. But some effort is needed to summon impersonality and become more charitable in our thoughts and feelings. This generosity in thinking and feeling is a sign of impersonality in our living. By self-restraint, by contemplation on what is immediately above us, we can develop the power of endurance—titikshā."
-Asutosh Satpathy
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