Strengths and weaknesses - one step closer

            Every thought, word and action springs from one’s strength. Strength is the foundation that enables its manifestation and weakness is the inherent inability within or without that prevents such a possibility. The human mind is always in the pursuit of adding to its strengths, hiding seeming weakness to shield it from being exploited by others. 

            Strengths and weaknesses are in every domain – physical, chemical, biological, financial, social, ethical, spiritual and everything in between. While it is true these aspects are definitely subjective, we can still operate under generalizations. To gain a deeper understanding one can approach this topic from numerous angles, but using the itihasapuranas and Gita we will be able to get a closer look. The hardest rock may resist action, yet water and time can still erode them. So what may be strength and weakness is definitely relative and subjective.

            It is important to keep these pointers in perspective when understanding strengths and weaknesses:

• Are constantly changing
• Are relative
• Are subjective
• Highly interchangeable. What appears as strength can become a weakness and vice versa.
• Tends to be stronger and long lasting when felt in multiple dimensions.
• Overlooking the limitations of strengths will be a huge weakness.
• Trending towards Dharma makes the strengths stronger and going against weakens it.

A peek into itihasapuranas

To get a perspective of this relativity, let us quickly recall few characters from itihasapuranas and gauge them only from our topic’s focus.

Dasaratha: Despite being a dharmic king of valor, he did not have any children. One day, while hunting, he accidentally kills a Rishikumara – Shravanakumara and incurs the wrath of his father. Thus, he earned a curse that his death will be due to the extreme sorrow caused due to the separation from his son. Dasaratha, though seriously repenting for the papa of causing three innocent deaths, was secretly rejoicing. His biggest pain in life was the lack of children. The curse now looked like a blessing. Though the curse became finally true, what may seem as a weakness can become strength and vice versa, depending on the perspective and attitude.

Kaikeyi: She was as loving as Rama’s mother, Kausalya. Yet, bad association made her tap some unused boons from the past. This not only bound Dasaratha into knots, but also sealed all options for Rama. Interestingly these had no impact on Rama, who hinted that she wasted the two boons and she could have achieved the same results by directly ordering Rama. Unfazed by all this, what seemed to be the pinnacle of her plan ended up in the death of her husband, besides putting a huge wall with her own son Bharata. Even the most well conceived plans to consolidate our strengths can be our real weakness, if rooted in adharma or ajnana.

Vaali-Sugriva: Both were born from divine beings for a worthy divine cause, to be part of Rama’s army. Vaali let his temper delude his reasoning and resolved to kill Sugriva at the first opportunity besides taking over his wife Ruma as his concubine. He was much stronger than Ravana. Without any second thought, intoxicated by his strength, Vaali forges a bond of friendship with Ravana. Though Sita was kidnapped in his jurisdiction, he chose to have a blind eye. Vaali chose to overlook dharma. Sugriva, despite living in mortal fear, gets into a pact of brotherhood with Rama. This connection not only earns Rama’s strength but also earn back his wife and kingdom. Though he loses time due to vasana pressure, Rama’s message puts him back on track. A hugely superior Vaali lost his life to a single Ramabaana only due to his Adharmic connection, while Sugriva despite all his weaknesses evolves from strength to strength due to Rama kainkarya and Rama Sambandha.

Hanuman: Perhaps the biggest transformation that occurred to anyone in any Itihasapurana. From a minister who was hiding with his master in a cave, who chanced upon Rama sambandha, Hanuman grows from strength to strength. Though he demonstrates his tremendous potential it is only after realizing and applying himself for Rama kainkarya, he taps into his real strengths. We studied in detail the different exploits of Hanuman overcoming obstacles by example and Hanuman via Practical lessons from Hanuman’s dilemmas in Lanka – Part 1 and Part 2. Bigger the vision and greater the detachment in doing one’s duties, greater is the ability to tap our strengths. Couple this with an intense eye on knowing and being our real SELF (Atman), one can perform miracles based on such hidden strengths.

Vibhishana: The best example to make us realize that our best strengths will not be revealed unless we get over the shadows of adharma. Despite his repeated attempts to reform Ravana and guide him along the path of Dharma only got him ridicule and death threats. He surrenders to Rama’s lotus feet, not seeking life protection or kingdom, but for the opportunity to be on the side of Dharma. Many times we continuously waste our time and energy to convert our weaknesses into strengths. This futility is compounded by the fact we may be not tapping into our deepest reserves, but also our wrong positioning.

Aditya Hridayam: Rama takes the avatara to set the highest dharma standards for every human being to emulate. He comes across as the highest expression of strength and power in a graceful manner. He displays it in numerous places by dispatching Hanuman, later Angada to Ravana. Rama displays absolute confidence when he sends back the completely beaten Ravana in his very encounter, demonstrating very high ideals. Yet the wounded pride of Ravana, desperate to display his valor digs deep and pushes Rama to his brink. Here we must note that Rama donning the human role plays this part for our education. A crest fallen Rama is reenergized by Agastya Maharishi with his insightful Aditya Hridayam. All this does to Rama and everyone reciting this sloka is tune the attention of the weakness oppressed mind to recharge itself by directing its attention to the real nature of everyone – Atman and thus reconnecting us to Paramatma. This Atmic connection alone ensures infinite supply of strengths and energy that can wipe out seemingly inexhaustible problems and insurmountable weaknesses by highlighting the Truth.

Asuric mindset: Seeing a fraction as a whole is the trait of Tamas. Asuras are embodiments of Tamas. Assembling the pieces of their perception they limit their strengths to a small domain. Despite mastering them, this fractional understanding turns itself into a massive weakness by itself. For instance, Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakashipu, Ravana, Bhasmasura, Shumba, Nishumba, Raktabhija, Chanda, Munda and many other Danavas and Daityas were extremely powerful, even got wondrous boons, yet succumbed to the very weaknesses in their boons. Limited vision limits the strengths from growing or lasting longer. Increase the vision, increase the strengths.

Sishupala: His mother’s rigor and affection to Krishna won him the protection of avoiding the death sentence he was born with. Emboldened by doing more adharma, he constantly pushed the envelope by doing what he was forbidden. This only developed the hate vasana for Krishna. Rukmini’s marriage only aggravated the situation, as did his friendship with Jarasandha. It finally culminated in his death at the hands of Krishna during Yudhishtra’s Rajasuya Yagna. Constantly pushing the limits of strengths and exposing more weakness only worsens and weakness our own potency.

Dhritarashtra: As a person dependent on borrowed strengths, his rooting in dharma would have been his biggest strength. Instead, Dhritarashtra chose to dwell on his Adharmic aspirations and love for his son, by living vicariously through him. Despite the great wisdom from a plethora of great mahatmas like Vidura, Bhishma, Vyasa, Sanatsujata and Krishna, holding on to his weaknesses and fantasizing them as strengths led to the complete destruction of his clan. Perceiving weaknesses wrongly as strengths and not listening to dharmic well-wishers will lead to complete self destruction.

Duryodhana: Commits the biggest blunder by only counting physical strengths alone as strength. Ignoring Dharma, the underlying power behind sustaining any power turns very costly for him, as recounting his strengths and power only blinded his understanding. Lacking completeness in understanding results in ignoring one’s own weakness and overlooking the opponents’ (or situations’) strengths.  Karna who is the core of Duryodhana’s strengths suffered from the same plight. Despite his prowess, his constant adharma association weakens him completely. To realize the full potential, one must understand and side with Dharma at all times.

Arjuna: His dedication to his Guru and continuous disciplined effort, Purushartha, kept him accumulating more strength. Yet his consistent abidance and application of Dharma preserved his strengths. Every opportunity, he was open to augmenting his strength. Based on Vyasa’s suggestion, he embarks on doing Tapas on Shiva to earn Pasupatastra and eventually all the divyastras. Even though his thinking was not correct, he always wanted to on the same side as Dharma and Krishna This enabled the Jagatguru to constantly augment his strengths, shield his weaknesses from getting exploited by the enemies. Being on the side of Dharma enables one to tap the wisdom of the Supreme Consciousness and also enabling its strengths to manifest through us.

Bhagavad Gita on strength and power:

            Three Gita slokas shine more light on strength, its nature and the power it exudes.

बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम्। धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ।।7.11।।

balaṁ balavatāṁ chāhaṁ kāma-rāga-vivarjitam dharmāviruddho bhūteṣhu kāmo ’smi bharatarṣhabha

Of the strong, I am the strength – devoid of desire and attachment, and in (all) beings, I am the desire – unopposed to DHARMA, O best among the Bharatas.

            In the seventh chapter, Bhagawan Krishna gives an insight into the superlatives we see around as HIS expression. He gives a big list of HIS expressions, but when it came to strength, Bhagawan qualifies it as HIS, ONLY IF it is untainted by kama (desire) or raaga (likes/inclinations). To further qualify Strength becomes HIS expression ONLY if it is aligned with DHARMA.

अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः। मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः।।16.18।।

ahankāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ kāmaṁ krodhaṁ cha sanśhritāḥ mām ātma-para-deheṣhu pradviṣhanto ’bhyasūyakāḥ

Given to egoism, power, haughtiness, lust and anger, these malicious people hate Me in their own bodies, and in those of others.

Krishna gives a deep insight into what happens to strength not rooted in Dharma. Fueled by egoism, pride, lust and anger, the Adharmic strength expresses and exudes adharma. This is evident all around us with people committing grave papas, being rooted in their I-ness as the body, thus ooze hate through their bodies and others.

अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम्। विमुच्य निर्ममः शान्तो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते।।18.53।।

ahankāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ kāmaṁ krodhaṁ parigraham vimuchya nirmamaḥ śhānto brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

Having abandoned egoism, power, arrogance, desire, anger and aggrandizement, and freed from the notion of ‘mine’, and therefore peaceful – he is fit to become BRAHMAN.

            Krishna gives the antidote to the above mentioned sloka in the 18^th chapter, by asking us to renounce the real root that manifests as ahamkara, Adharmic strength, pride etc by completely freeing from their wrong notion of I-ness and also completely giving up the sense of doership. This cuts the guardian knot and qualifies us for proceeding in this spiritual journey.

            The Gita slokas reiterate the fact that real strength is being rooted in DHARMA. Any other expressions of strength can be powerful, yet prove catastrophic to the wielder.

 

Practical pointers:

• Strength comes from unity, knowledge, dharma, focus. Strength may be in physique, support, wealth, emotional or intellectual. Realizing the opportunity with reality is strength. Ignorance or arrogance leads to weakness.
• Adherence to Dharma amplifies our strengths as our actions are aligned with Bhagawan's intentions.
•  Strength is not mere presence of some skills or favorite conditions conducive of producing the results, while weakness is not their mere absence. Factors aiding success or victory alone are not strengths and their absence alone is not weakness.
•  It is definitely not advisable to cross the red lines, even if one is an adept in spiritual path. Testing the limits of our strengths by giving up dharma weakens us completely and this hollow strength is weakened faster by the intensity of own actions.
•  Being connected to dharma keeps one in proximity to tapping the real inner strength, which we all have. But the ahamkara wedges away from our Atmabala.
• Converting strength or weakness is a factor of our adherence to Dharma.

 

How to tap the strength in our daily lives

• Practicing the right skills, adding to the skill set
• Tapping a knowledge source to overcome the limitations
• Respect your limitations and other’s strengths
• Rise above an egotistical or myopic self centered thinking
• Work as a team
• Introspect
• Be inspired a vision larger than selfish motives
• Be aligned with Dharma
• Focus on Atmabala

            Life is a struggle, if we take this struggle away, life ceases. To some it appears like the entire weight of the world is oppressing. This is a clear indication of incorrect understanding. One needs to overcome this feeling through right actions and by association with the right (Satsanga) and dharma. That enables them to tap their inner strengths or at least overcome their weakness.

            Purity of purpose comes from holding on to increasingly larger vision but the highest purity is when one overcomes desire. Even while maintaining desires, there are two types, one aligned with Dharma or against. 

            May we understand this subtlety and tap our deepest reserves of our strengths. May we align ourselves to Dharma, not merely to be strong, but with the firm realization that Dharma alone is the source of highest strength. Dharma is the source of lasting sukam, Dharma alone leads us to the ultimate good of all.

 

ॐ तत् सत