Passion or Dispassion

The human mind is an active storm zone. There is a calm before the storm, and then there is a storm again. Therefore, brainstorming is a natural phenomenon. How, then, is it possible for someone to be calm and focused? Doesn’t the very phrase "a calm mind" sound ironic when the mind is so furiously busy? Yet only a calm mind makes wise decisions. When the mind is full of storms, how can we decide? How can we "keep calm"?

The mind has a peculiar habit of running after things. The sense organs help perceive the world around us, and the mind keeps running after them, thought after thought after thought. It is, therefore, like a genie—a genie that would devour us if it is not given enough work to do.

The mind is a tool, a very efficient tool that needs to be used by us. We are not our minds; we are the masters of the mind. There needs to be a clear master-servant relationship established with our mind for our own safety.

So this servant, called the mind, needs to be given tasks. The servant never gets to relish the fruit of the task. Similarly, the mind should never be allowed to taste the fruit of its actions. For when it does, it gets addicted to the fruit/result and keeps asking for more of it.

Enter ‘Purpose.’

A purpose simply means a vision. When a mind is set and tuned to a purpose, it functions like a well-oiled machine. Day and night, it keeps working to achieve this purpose. Therefore, unlike a task, a purpose needs to be large. Only then will the mind have enough work to do!

Let us draw an analogy from the Ramayana here.

Hanuman was a great warrior and a superior devotee of Lord Rama. For Hanuman, Rama became the purpose. For his purpose, he crossed the ocean, fought demons, set Lanka on fire, found Sita, helped build a bridge, fought Ravana, saved Lakshmana, and eventually helped Sita and Rama reunite.

Let us not forget, biologically, Hanuman is a vanara (monkey). A human mind is often equated to a monkey. Now imagine what a monkey’s mind would be like! But when this monkey’s mind was given a definite purpose, it acted with vigor, it acted swiftly, and it performed unimaginable feats, defying its own limitations and randomness.

Therefore, a definite and clear purpose has the potential to tame a human mind.

Enter ‘Dispassion.’

Passion means an unbearably strong emotion toward something. "I am passionate about it," we say, suggesting we have an urge to do something. Dispassion means the opposite: it means not being affected by emotions. It suggests unbiased or impartial emotion.

Passion sets the mind into action. Dispassion sets the mind into detached action. Passion could breed anxiety. Dispassion breeds calmness. Passion is like a mirage. Dispassion is a spring.

When a purpose is integrated with dispassion, we call it a dispassionate purpose. A purpose, upon the achievement of which, would not cause any change or bias in thoughts and emotions, can be called a Dispassionate Purpose.

As mentioned earlier, the human mind works on an incentive basis. If the mind finds nothing for itself in a deed, how would it be incentivized to perform it? How, then, would a human mind choose a dispassionate purpose?

Let’s reflect on the Mahabharata for a bit.

Arjuna, one of the five Pandava princes, was a trained warrior with unparalleled valor and skill. His enemies feared him. With superior archery skills, there was no target too far for his arrows. His very presence in the war sent a chill down the enemy’s spine. Such unimaginable prowess. Such remarkable clarity of vision.

When the Pandavas were sent to exile, their sole purpose became to earn back their kingdom and pride. This purpose was heavily reliant on the travesty that the kingdom, which was rightfully theirs, was taken away in a heavily biased game of gamble and, more importantly, to restore the pride of Draupadi, who was insulted by the Kaurava assembly.

This purpose brewed in Arjuna for thirteen years before the situation inevitably led to the battlefield. Arjuna was now facing his enemy. His purpose was about to be achieved. This is when he crumbled. He broke down, looking at his own kith and kin standing in opposition, and he just couldn’t make up his mind to kill them. This is when he turned to Lord Krishna.

All that Lord Krishna did through his teachings in the Gita was infuse dispassion into Arjuna’s purpose.

He advised Arjuna to perform the duty for duty’s sake and not to get attached to its aftermath. He elevated Arjuna’s thoughts by asking him to stick to the fundamentals of Kshatriya Raja Dharma, which is to eliminate all that is wrong and establish a righteous rule. This elevation of purpose was through the establishment of a perfect understanding of duty (Swadharma).

Dutiful perseverance of a dispassionate purpose elevates our soul and brings us closer and closer to our true nature of being. A human mind chugging along with a dispassionate purpose remains active and calm at the same time. It attains a beautiful balance. Such a mind can resolve conflicts and make clear and wise decisions.

Spotting our mind’s dispassionate purpose leads to a wonderful way of life!