The wheel of time moves continuously. Nothing remains constant as the universe transforms every moment. How in such a transitory situation can anything be expected to be stable? Stability in the world is merely an illusion. The Earth rotates at a speed of 1670 kmph at the equator, but we do not realise this speed as we are moving with it as well. Similar is the situation of the transitory universe, where we ourselves are evolving every moment. Therefore, we can't realise the reshaping taking place around us.
If we seek stillness in a moving river, it is not possible. The water flows, and with it flows the concept of stability. Is it possible to drink the same water twice from a river? No. Similarly, it is not possible for anyone to live the same moment twice. To experience the same emotions twice in life, or meet the same person and live the same experience again and again. Because at each moment, people change, their perspectives change, and the environment surrounding us remodels itself. However, we cannot notice these minute rearrangements taking place around us constantly.
In the 14th shloka of the 2nd Chapter of Bhagwat Geeta, Bhagwan Shri Krishan says,
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदु:खदा: |
आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत || 14||
Translation: O son of Kunti, the contact between the senses and the sense objects gives rise to fleeting perceptions of happiness and distress. These are non-permanent and come and go like the winter and summer seasons. O descendant of Bharat, one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.
It clearly explains the non-permanent, constant reconstruction of the universe. Even what we experience through our senses is not stable. It comes and goes, as Shri Krishna says, like winter and summer. In this situation of instability that we endure throughout the life, we must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.
On the practical aspect, the concept of seeking stability in life, in career, in a relationship, is desirable but not achievable. Nothing is stable and is amenable to change. If our mind accepts this as a fact, it doesn't get affected by such rearrangements. Therefore, emotional attachment to any situation, person or thing, should be guarded against. One should develop an ability to remain stable in an unstable world by accepting the possible and forthcoming changes.
Rumi writes, where there is ruin, there is hope. Describing that the remaking doesn't happen only for destroying things, but also for creating them anew. There is always a new creation happening in the universe, almost at the same or faster rate as destruction. How can one lament the bygone when new things are coming to life? No need to become sad about the ruins, as there is a new hope hidden behind it.
Our minds crave certainty and stability because they prefer not to process change. It tries to adjust and accept the situation as they exist before us. Since it requires tremendous effort, any change is not easily accepted by the mind. It tries to negate them. Deny them. And seeks stability. It is a simple law of conservation of energy. Why would our mind like to keep working all the time to understand and adjust to the new and evolving situation? That is the reason, even when the change in the world is inevitable, the majority of people fail to notice and adapt to it. However, whether we like it or not, change is inevitable, so better we train our minds to accept it and evolve with circumstances.
Elixir:
Search for stability is a wasteful effort. Wisdom is seeking harmony with the transformation taking place in the universe.
