SAMADHANA - Balance with Attention
"Balance with attention" is one of Swami Sitaramananda's favorite versions of this word. The story goes that you practice in order to become balanced in order to realize your true Self. If you are unbalanced, it indicates that you are extreme in some aspects. You will then fall. Why is being excessive bad? Being extreme in anything has the opposite consequence. You will crumble where you were once powerful. Balance implies that you are good at everything and that you are always focused on the aim of Self Realization. You may occasionally fall a little, go a little sideways, or become a little furious, sad, or attached. But you never really lose yourself, and you never lose your way.
One must acquire the virtues of balance, equanimity, detachment from ups and downs, and liking and disliking. In this manner, your focus is always on the goal. It's akin to staying balanced on one foot in the tree stance. To balance in the tree stance, your eyes must be fixed on a distant place. You might lose it if someone compliments you. You might lose it if someone criticizes you. You must keep your attention on the goal and not become distracted by praise or criticism, in good or bad times. This is known as "balancing with attention," "focus on the aim," or "equanimity practice."
