View this page: "Adaptability, A Means To Peace by Sri Swami Sivananda

[Nirmala]

Adaptability, A Means To Peace by Sri Swami Sivananda

Taken from Sivananda Day-to-day. To subscribe to this mailing list
please go to: http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi

Adaptability is a virtue or noble quality by which one adapts or fits
himself with others, whatever their nature may be. The man of
adaptability accommodates himself with others, whatever their
temperament may be. This is a most desirable quality for success in
life. This has to be developed slowly. The vast majority of persons do
not know how to adjust themselves with others. Adaptability is a
peculiar knack or pluck to win the hearts of others by a little
bending.

The wife does not know how to adapt herself with her husband. She
displeases her husband always and makes quarrels in the house and gets
a divorce. The clerk does not know how to adapt himself with his boss
or superior. He quarrels with the superior and gets an immediate sack.
The disciple does not know how to adapt himself with his Guru. He
misbehaves, and leaves the Guru. The businessman does not know how to
adapt himself with the customers and loses his customers and business.
The Diwan does not know how to adapt himself with the Maharajah. He
has to leave the State Service. The world runs on adaptability. He who
knows this art or science of adaptability pulls on quite well in this
world and is always happy under any conditions of life.

The man must be pliable if he wants to adapt himself. It does not need
much wisdom or ingenuity for developing adaptability. If the clerk
understands well the ways and habits and temperament of his superior
and adjusts himself nicely to suit his ways, his superior becomes a
slave of the clerk. You will have to use some kind, sweet words. A
little lubricant to soften his heart is needed. That is all. Speak
gently and sweetly. Carry out his orders to the very letter. Never
retort him. "Obedience is greater than sacrifice." Remember this maxim
at all times. The superior wants a little respect. Say, Hanjhi,
Hanjhi. Ji huzur, very well Sir." It costs you nothing. Then your
superior becomes your slave. He has for you a soft corner in his
heart. You become his pet. He will do whatever you want. He will
excuse your mistakes. Humility and obedience are necessary for
developing adaptability. An egoistic, proud man finds it very
difficult to adapt himself. He is always in trouble. He always fails
in his attempts. Egoism and pride are two important obstacles in the
way of developing adaptability.

When one student does not know how to adapt himself with his fellow-
mate who is living in the same room, friction comes in and their
friendship is broken immediately. Adaptability makes friendship last
for a long time. Students fight for little things. One student says,
"I gave Mr. X tea for several days. I took him to cinema on my own
account for several days. I asked him to lend me the book "Boswell’s
Life of Johnson" for reading. He has bluntly refused now. What sort of
friend he is? I do not like him." The friendship is broken now. A
simple thing upsets the mind. Adaptability is a strong catgut ligature
that links people in unbroken love and friendship. A man of
adaptability can pull on with anybody in any part of the world. People
unconsciously love a man of adaptability.

Adaptability gives immense strength and profound joy. Adaptability
develops will.
A man of adaptability has to make some sacrifice. Adaptability
develops the spirit of sacrifice. It kills selfishness. A man of
adaptability has to share what he has with others. He has to bear
insult and harsh words. A man of adaptability develops the feeling of
unity or oneness of life. For Vedantic Sadhana it is of great help. He
who practises adaptability has to destroy the feelings of Ghrina and
contempt and the idea of superiority. He has to mix with all. He has
to embrace all. Adaptability develops universal love and kills the
feeling of hatred.

A man of adaptability has to put up with the unkind words and harsh
treatment of his friends. He has to develop patience and endurance.
These virtues develop by themselves unconsciously when he tries to
adapt himself with others. A man of adaptability can live in a cool
place. He can bear the heat of Benares or Africa. He develops balance
of mind. He can bear extreme heat and cold. Adaptability brings
eventually Atma-Jnana. He who has this noble virtue is a great man in
this world. He is always happy and successful.

Click on http://groups.google.co.uk/group/satsang-with-swamiji/web/adaptability-a-means-to-peace-by-sri-swami-sivananda?hl=en
- or copy & paste it into your browser's address bar if that doesn't
work.

[Nirmala]

[Nirmala]