Self-Possession

"True self-possession means freeing yourself from unnecessary expectations and excessive attachments."

Jaimini Mistry
L ong ago, there lived a wise sage named Kratu in the Himalayas. Every morning, he performed his daily prayers and sacred rituals at sunrise.
One day, while he was offering holy water to the Sun God, a young boy arrived. The boy looked anxious and restless. A question had been troubling him for a long time, and he was eagerly waiting for the sage to finish his prayers.
Sage Kratu noticed the worried boy.
After completing his rituals, the sage smiled kindly and asked,
"What happened, my child?"
The boy hesitated for a moment before saying,
"Master, how can a person truly achieve self-possession in this material world?"
Sage Kratu smiled gently and replied in a calm voice,
"Nowadays, many people think self-possession simply means staying calm during difficult situations. Others believe it means standing up only for themselves, protecting what they own, or thinking only about 'me' and 'I.'
"But that is not true self-possession.
"In fact, many people mistake self-conceit for self-possession.
"True self-possession means accepting people and situations with an open mind. It means freeing yourself from unnecessary expectations and excessive attachments. When you learn to do this, your mind becomes peaceful, steady and serene."
The boy listened carefully and then asked,
"But how can people accept everything? How do they know whether something is good or bad? And is it really possible to detach ourselves from the people we love?"
The sage nodded gently.
"Yes, it is possible," he said.
"When you are ready to accept the consequences of your actions without fear or hesitation, you gain calmness.
"When you stop expecting things from others, you become humble.
"And when you begin to see every living being as a part of yourself, your mind becomes truly still."
The boy's face brightened. At last, he had found the answer he had been searching for.
As he prepared to leave, Sage Kratu gave him one final piece of advice.
"Always remember," he said, "true self-possession not only makes your mind peaceful and strong, but it also keeps your heart humble. A truly wise person is never proud of their wisdom."
The boy bowed respectfully to the sage and returned home with a calm mind and a grateful heart.