Dealing with challenging situations - Attitude is what makes the difference

In the last two years really everyone was faced with one or more confrontations within themselves. Really, although the challenge appeared to be in the outside world, it is always how we respond to it and that is connected within ourselves and our attitude.

The idea of pain and pleaaseure exists solely in the human consciousness. Everyone has their own experiences and sufferings in this life. Our behaviour depends on what is happening in our personal life. This has always been the case - obviously also before Covid-19. One person loses his/her business, another a beautiful person in their life. If I lose people who are dear to me, I could also feel free. But our consciousness has been trained for ages to behave in a very specific way. In various situations in our lives, we respond as we have been conditioned. Through meditation and spiritual practices it is possible to change the attitude towards life and thus have more peace and contentment in our life. Sounds too easy, or airy-fairy unrealistic?

Francis of Assisi once went to St. Mary's Chapel with Brother Leonardo. They were ordinary beggars, they were then not considered Saints as they are today. In the middle of the night they reached their destination - it was bitterly cold and snowing - and they knocked on the door of an inn. The innkeeper opened the door, saw the beggars and slammed the door again. They didn't know where to stay. Because of the bitter cold they knocked again. The innkeeper opened the door again, saw the same beggars standing there, insulted them wildly and slammed the door again. They had no place to stay, were cold and hungry. Francis knocked on the door a third time. The innkeeper opened the door, came out, kicked them both out onto the snowy street, then went in, slammed the door and locked it. They were ordinary beggars with weak bodies. They were barefoot and dressed in rags; they had not chosen an easy life. Leonardo was angry, but Francis was completely calm. Suddenly another thought came to the innkeeper who had kicked them. He felt sorry for the two who were standing outside in the snow and cold. His animal nature gave way to his human-ness. He wanted to see if they were still outside. If they froze to death outside, the police would come and question him. He went out and saw both of them sitting in a corner, trembling. He invited them in, offered them a seat by the fire and brought them some hot food. They accepted it silently. The innkeeper asked them if they were mad at him for kicking them. Leonardo was about to make a sharp reply, as most of us would. But Francis forestalled him: "No, for me, life is a game, an expression of the divine will. Everything is part of a great plan. Whether you kick me or whether you invite me in and offer me something warm, I see it no difference. Each is just a matter of body and emotions.

These things do not concern the "soul", our essence, the highest consciousness. One who lives alone in the body responds to physical stimuli. But someone who lives in the soul, in the atman, in the self, reacts to the soul. He will not react to physical and mental stimuli.Saints like Francis of Assisi are rare. However, accepting some of their attitude should be our goal if we are to live without pain. We cannot escape from pain, for pain is our shadow. Pain will always be there, but the perception of pain can change as we transcend body and consciousness. This changed attitude comes gradually through earnest and judicious practice of Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.with the mind we can never transcend pain and pleasure. But through yoga it is possible. The great saints and sages have left their mark on history for us.