Anchoring the Mind Amidst Uncertainty

If you are certain that everything is uncertain, then you are liberated. Uncertainty with awareness brings higher states of consciousness and a smile. Often, people think that certainty is freedom, but if you can feel that freedom when you are not certain, then that is ‘real’ freedom. When you are uncertain in ignorance, you become worried and tense, but in knowledge, you can be enthusiastic in uncertainty.

You are surrounded by uncertainty; your very life is uncertain. If you talk to a top scientist, he will tell you about the theory of uncertainty — that everything is uncertain; our whole solar system is currently escaping black holes, and at any moment, the whole system could be sucked into them. Pralaya, the dissolution of the universe, can happen at any moment. Even our observations are not entirely true because the observer makes an impact on the object. Whether you study philosophy or physics, you eventually get to the same spot: a place of wonderment.

Life is a journey from an ugly “I don’t know” to a beautiful “I don’t know”. The ugly “I don’t know” is born of frustration and stress; it is when you say, “Don’t ask me, I have no idea,” because you are angry. But a scientist would wonder and conclude, “I don’t know!” It is a state of openness, innocence, and joy. The more you know, the more you realise there is so much more to know. This sensibility takes you to another dimension of the mind, which is open to creativity and intuitive ability.

Life is a combination of certainty and wonderment. You cannot say you are uncertain about everything; in the limited sphere of knowledge, you must be sure. If you are a good driver or a chef, you must know what you are doing, or no one will come to you. But while you are sure of the road to Munich, there is another part of you exploring universal truth. If you are only sure, you become boring and stuck in old paradigms, resembling a stone with a sense of inertia. If you are only wondering, you may look very confused. A perfect balance is surety combined with a sense of “wow” — it brings a spark and charm in you because you are open to new ideas while remaining sure of your actions, words, and intentions.

You can be at ease with the uncertainty of the world by realising the certainty of consciousness. People often rely on that which is unreliable in the world and get upset, but the most stable thing in the universe is our Self. The world is of change, while the Self is of non-change. You have to rely on the non-change and accept the change. Acting in uncertainty makes life a game and a challenge; it is the ultimate act of letting go.

To maintain this centredness, we must address our emotional resilience. The formula for stress is having too much to do, too little time, and no energy. We must become more conscious of our own emotions and what we can do to manage them. Neither at home nor at school are we taught how to manage our feelings. While it is normal to get agitated or upset, we let those feelings linger on for days together. One important aspect that many do not know is that our emotions are linked to the rhythms of our breath. However, if we know something about our breathing patterns, we can impact our mind and be in charge of our emotions. This brings a sense of empowerment and keeps us centred.

There should be a sense of acceptance about all emotions; no emotion is inherently good or bad. Emotions make us human and make us feel alive; we are not objects. The challenge is learning how to channel and transform negative emotions into positive ones through breath and a broadened awareness of our life. A healthy emotion is one that stays only as long as it takes to draw a line on water. We see this in children, who can cry one moment and smile the next, even before the tears have dried up on their cheeks. As adults, we often lose this ability. We either overexpress our emotions or bury them deep within.

The middle path is essential, and this is possible if we become aware of our life in a broader context. There is something in all of us that lies beyond all the emotions — our spirit. While our thoughts, bodies, and emotions are constantly changing, there is a reference point within us that remains unchanged. Because this unchanging element is present, we are able to notice the changes occurring around us. Being in touch with that aspect of us that does not change — the Self — is what meditation is.

Meditation does not make you dull or dry; it helps you enjoy emotions better instead of getting embroiled in them. It allows you to witness and watch the emotions. When someone “pushes your buttons” and a sensation arises, awareness acts as a filter, allowing you to choose whether to act. Those who lack this filter often act out of emotional outbursts and end up in trouble. If you interact with so-called criminals, you will find that in every culprit, a victim is crying for help.

By taking a step back from our emotions, we can channel this energy to our advantage rather than being dragged by it. We often define ourselves by saying, “I am sad” or “I am angry,” which leaves no space for anything else. But we are more than these fleeting emotional states.

When we embrace the universal uncertainty of the world while remaining anchored in the certainty of our own spirit, we find a deeper freedom and a lasting smile.

There is a bigger intelligence running this whole show; just have trust in it. Long before you arrived, this planet was already revolving around the sun, seasons would arrive in time, and every creature — from the butterfly to the elephant — was able to find its food. In the context of time, your presence here is not even a drop in the ocean.

You can rest and relax knowing that this great power, which surrounds you and is within you, loves you very dearly, just as a mother loves her child. When you have this faith that the whole of nature is like a mother at home, you can truly relax. Once you realise there is a power always taking care of you, how can you be anxious?