ÌF'ARA BÀ'LẸ̀ (Calmness) : Ifa Perspective
If'ara ba'le is a required accompaniment of suuru (patience) for a person to be an agba (an elder). Ifara ba'le is translated into English language as calmness. Being calm is an integral part of being matured. It indicates self-control as well as self-direction. With if'ara ba'le one is able to look at issues with an attitude which reduces the possibility of missing out or overlooking any piece of information regarding any situation. The position of an elder in the community is one of leadership. It is not acquired for its own sake and therefore one must earn it. One of those qualifications is the demonstration of the acquisition of if'ara ba'le as a required virtue. If'ara ba'le is a learned virtue too; it requires that one applies the skill of self-control, focus and serenity in order to stay calm under difficult circumstances. The good thing about calmness is that it is a subtle but very effective way to conserve energy and to increase one