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Commitment

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“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is
one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never
otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power
and magic in it. Begin it now.”

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 1749-1832, German Poet, Dramatist, Novelist

 

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Going beyond tolerance

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In BG 2.14, Krishna gives a nice formula for tolerance: The periodic appearance and disappearance of happiness and distress are like appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. Therefore, one should learn to tolerate them.

Tolerating an event becomes much easier when we know the event is temporary.This is based on an intellectual conviction of this basic principle.

However, Krishna furthermore recommends that a serious practitioner of a spiritual path should aspire to go beyond the “gritting the teeth” sort of tolerance. At this stage, the practitioner sees every situation as an opportunity to receive grace of God. This is only possible if one accepts the situation with a sense of responsibility, understanding that others are simply acting as instruments of one’s own karma, and one maintains the commitment (and strengthens his will-power) to enthusiastically follow the prescribed regimens of the spiritual path.

Such a committed person embraces an adverse circumstance with (1) Yes (“I accept the situation”), (2) Thank you (“for this opportunity to grow”), and (3) Please (“help me”) – calling out for a power beyond one’s own to receive the necessary realization to bolster one’s relationship with God in this circumstance.

 

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Why me?

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Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS. From world  over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed :

“Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease?”

To this, Arthur Ashe replied:

In the world,
over 50 million children start playing tennis,
over 5 million learn to play tennis,
over 500000 learn professional tennis,
over 50000 come to the circuit,
over 5000 reach the grand slam,
over 50 reach Wimbeldon,
over 4 to the semi-finals,
and over 2 to the finals.

When I was holding a cup, I never asked GOD “Why me?”.

And today, when I am in pain, I should not be asking GOD “Why me?”

Happiness keeps you Sweet,

Trials keep you Strong,

Sorrow keeps you Human ,

Failure Keeps you Humble,

Success keeps you Glowing,

But only God Keeps you Going.

 

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Lessons from a butterfly

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A man found a butterfly cocoon and decided to save it. One day a small opening appeared, and the man sat and watched for several hours as the butterfly struggled to force its body through the little hole.

At one point the butterfly seemed to stop making progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no farther. The man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily.

But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would dry in the warm air and open wide enough to support the butterfly’s body. He thought, too, that the body would contract. But neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It was never able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening was God’s way of forcing fluid from the butterfly’s body into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it had freed itself from the cocoon.

Lesson: Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need. Each hurdle in life is sent by God to make us stronger in our pursuit of Truth. Never lose heart in the face of impossible odds.

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Do it anyway

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People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.
– Mother Teresa