The Strengths To Have

An elderly father from his rural home town was visiting his son living in the city. Early morning he would leave the residence and take a 15 minute walk to visit a religious place nearby. One day he left 25 minutes earlier than his regular time and on his way down in the lift he was joined by a tall 6ft well-built man. The 6ft man greets him and learning he is going to the temple offers to drop him as he was going to the gymnasium across the temple.   

Since you are early uncle let me show you our Gym and what we do inside. The old man was visiting a gym for the first time and was taken aback at the heavy weight lifting being done, various equipment and instruments being used for body shaping and exercising. People were sweating and stretching their limits in pain to keep their count or surpass it. The old man tried moving a weight but it dint move. A weight lifter nearby said uncle it takes a lot of strength. The old man replied well you have no idea of spiritual strengths, I recall an incident of a temple to move 360 degree around. Divinity in souls is a strength that surpasses ability of physical strengths.

What strength is the old man talking about had this weightlifter and few others wanting to know more? So they invited him to the coffee lounge next door after his temple visit. In about 45 minutes the old man joins the table for 5, waiting for its 5th guest.

Old man spoke physical strength is the ability to function physically and the muscle is the seat of this bodily strength whereas it takes spiritual strength to love people the way God has commanded. The character strength of spirituality involves our capacity to dig deep and find the greater meaning in life, to align ourselves with a purpose that extends beyond us. It is to find relationship and unity with something greater such as nature, God or the transcendent.

Looking at the weight lifter he said let me share an incident how spiritual strength in Divine with devotion and faith of a feeble man stands testimony even today. Sant Namdevji went to Anundha temple situated in the state of Maharashtra (India). When Namdevji started worshiping God the priests grabbed his arm and drove him out of the temple because he was of a low caste. Deeply hurt Mamdevji went to the back side of the temple and started worshipping God, in prayer he said "Mo ka▫o ṫooⁿ na bisaar ṫoo na bisaar.... " Please do not forget me O Lord, please do not forget me . The temple priest have doubts about this and everyone is furious with me. Calling me low-caste and untouchable, they beat me and drove me out, what should i do now O beloved father Lord. If you liberate me after I am dead, no one will know that I am liberated. These Pandits religious scholars call me low-born; when they say this they tarnish Your Honour as well. You are called kind and compassionate; the power of your arm is absolutely unraveled. The Lord turned the temple around to face Namdev ji : He turned His back on the Brahmins" SGGS Ang 1292.

One’s strength with developed devotion and faith has never missed the intervention of the divine in some manner responding to its true disciples. 

Build strengths to deal with struggle and hardships that make you decide not to surrender compromise or postpone standing test to conditions and situations. Adversity does not determine your life story but you reaction to adversity develops your story.

Spiritual strengths encompass qualities like compassion, empathy, kindness, humility and gratitude, which foster a sense of purpose and connection to something larger than oneself, leading to greater well-being and resilience. Like you’ll keep discipline in your training, spiritual strength is the ability to do spiritual things or the capacity to function spiritually in a particular way understanding the scriptures.

On his way out the old man said communicating with God and embracing His mercy and grace develops spiritual strength.