SPIRITUAL STRENGTH OR STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM THE SPIRIT

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH  OR  STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM THE SPIRIT

Strength comes from external realm  and also from internal  realm.  We are all familiar with the strength that derives from objects in the external realm.  Common examples being money, occupation, political power, power of social status.  A person who has lot of money or position of power would feel very strong and feel that he or she can face and overcome anything.  But it is not infrequent that we see that the very same people also often find themselves in a situation that no matter how much money or power they have, they at times feel very week, helpless and lost.  Sense of  desperation overcomes them and nothing seems to be able to help.

Strength can also be derived from the inner realm.  It is commonly defined as Spiritual or Adhyatmic strength, or Aatmic strength.  This strength does not derive from  anything in the outside world.  It does not derive from money or position of power.  It does not come and go.  Since it does not depend on any physical object therefore it is available and accessible where ever the individual is, since being inside it always stays with the person.

A good and easy to understand example is the spiritual teacher.  How do we know if he has this inner strength.  If, when in the presence of that master, you feel happy, content, calm and centered, that tells you that you are near a reservoir of inner spiritual strength.  Just  like when you are standing near a waterfall you can feel a few drops of water falling on you and make you feel very happy, similarly when in the vicinity of a sage who possesses inner spiritual strength, you will feel the qualities described  above.  ( The opposite of this is when you are in the company of someone who is  mentally disturbed or one with a shady character, you would feel restless and perturbed )  

When you have inner strength you would naturally feel happy without any obvious external reason because you are in touch with the infinite internal source of bliss or Ananda.  As the connection between you  and that infinite source of bliss becomes stronger it starts to overflow and flow around you and that is when those around you start to experience that as well when they are around you.  If you are such an individual you will be able to face any difficulty with ease.  Be that difficulty of physical or emotional nature.  There are examples of individuals who were subjected to physical torture but they did not give up what they believed in.  guru Tegh Bahadur was tortured by Moghul emperor Aurangjaeb but the Guru did not cry or show any sign of pain or suffering because he possessed so much inner strength that any pain inflicted from outside was easy to bear.  There are multiple examples in not only Sikh religion but other religions as well where the individual possessing such inner spiritual strength was able withstand pain and suffering.

This  is an extreme example.  Not everyone has to go through such pain.  More often we run into day to day difficulties in our life relating to work, relationships etc.  Often such difficulties cause people to get disturbed, lose their balance and we see many of them end up committing crimes, violence or get depressed and end up on psychotropic medications.  But an individual who possesses inner spiritual strength will be able to sail through  these day to day obstacles and difficulties with ease.  Difficulties are bound to come up.  Having inner spiritual strength does not mean that there won’t be any difficulties.  having inner spiritual strength means we will be able handle them better and not let theses problems to cause us to lose our peace of mind.

The next logical question is:  How to develop that inner strength ?  The answer is through Spiritual Sadana.  Than the next question is :  How to do Spiritual Saadhna ?   How to learn and where to go ad learn how to do Spiritual Saadhna ?  One can learn how to  by attending Satsang and by Swadhyaya or reading holy scriptures in a sustained and persistent manner.  Not once in a while, not whenevr it is convenient or doing it when there is nothing else to do.  This has to be the first priority and should be continuous and with lot of effort and motivation and burning desire.  what would happen when we engage in Satang and Swadhyaya ? It will make it easier to practice spiritual saadhna.  Which is the easiest and most effective saadhna ?  answer is in Gita verse:

Chapter 12  verse 12:

Engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.

In essence selfless service is the best way to engage in spiritual practice.  Engaging in selfless service while at  the same time participating in Satsang and  constatntly doing  Swadhyaya is the best way to  establish contact with that inner source of haapiness and peace. That is the sure way to deveop that inner strength.

When Sattva confronts Tamas

When Sattva confronts Tamas, who wins in the short term is determined by whose side Rajas takes.  Of course in the long term Sattva will prevail but it would have to persevere, persist and be raedy to make sacrifices and not compromise with it's principles.  Human history is full of spiritual leaders who confronted the  establishment.  But they had to make supreme sacrifices.  They had to pay with their lives but in doing so they showed their firm conviction and belief in what they were trying to do. 

 

Christ started out as a spiritual leader.  Making miracles happen and showing people the way that he believed to be the right spiritual way of life.  But later on he could see the corruption in the society and he had no choice but to challenge that.  In doing so he created enemies in high places and those in high places who were close to the ruling class, had his arrested and tried and crucified.  He never gave up what he believed in and the result is quite visible to the whole world.  His ideas and teachings have prevailed over the centuries.

 

Sikh Gurus provide another example of how spiritual leaders at some point felt the need to stand up against the establishment who they believed was acting against the interest of the masses.  Sikh Gurus did not have to take up arms but they did because they could see the injustice being practiced by the powerful.  They had to pay with their lives.  Guru Angad, Guru Tegh Bahadur and finally Guru Goving Singh along with his sons  were all killed by the ones who were in power and  controlled vast financial and military resources.  But we also see that teachings of Sikh gurus have prevailed in spite of that and are well and thriving.

 

Here  Christ and his teachings represent the Sattvic.  Sikh Gurus and their teaching represent the Sattvic.  Temple priests engaged in corruption in the temples represent the Tamas.  Mughal rulers and their persecution of Hindus represents Tamas.  The money and military power of the Romans at the time of Christ and the military strength of the mughals represent the Rajasic.  Sattvic challenged the Tamasic but the Rajas was on the side of Tamas. so Sattvic was defeated and overpowered at that time.  But eventually the Sattvic prevailed over the long term. 

 

So how is all this relevant to what   Baba Ramdev  is doing and facing.  He has been a spiritual leader and waking up the masses to a healthier lifestyle.  he has motivated millions to get up early in the morning and practice yoga and lead a healthier lifestyle.  Many claim to have been cured of diseases that could not be otherwise treated.  He has made people aware of nationalism and patriotism.  He has been a spiritual leader for many years.  When you are trying to improve the life of millions you start seeing the root causes of why it is not happening as it should.  You start seeing bigger issues that confront the society and addressing those seems like the next logical step.  That is where challenge to the establishment and its corrupt practices became the focus of his attention.  

 

But as you start to challenge the establishment than you become enemy number one for the state.  They will first try to convince you to go back to preaching and leave them alone.  But if you don't listen and comply than the full might of the establsihment is unleashed at you.  That is what happened to Christ, That is what happened to Sikh Gurus and that is what has happened to multiple other spiritual masters who tried to step out of the preacher's role and  challenge  the greater evils in the society.  But those had to pay dearly for doing that but no matter how powerful the establishment,  truth prevailed in the long run.

 

Baba Ramdev has challenged the establishment and teh ones who are powerful. He should not be surprised at the turn of events.  This is how the gane is played.  Question is:  How far is he going to go ?  Is he willing to make the ultimate sacrifice ?  What if he had allowed himself to be arrested in Ramlila grounds  ? What if he had allowed himself to arrested when he tried to enter Uttar Pradesh borders ?   What is the worst thing that could have happened to him?  With his popularity, it would have been impossible for the Govt to eliminate him.  He would have become a bigger hero than he already was.  Arrest would have legitimized his movement.  By tried to get away like he did he only helped those opposing him. 

 

If he truly believes in what he says regarding corruption than do not give up.  Avoid aggression and violence eben when faced with violence.  If he is a satyagrahi, offer himslef to be arrested rather than try to get away.  Lodged in jail he could be more effective.  While lodged in jail he could still conduct his yoga lessons for other prisoners and people working in the jail.  He could share his spiritual knowledge no matter where he is, even if it a jail.