Courage from Within

I really enjoyed it . There was a lot that , um , I learned and a lot that was shared , and it's always good to learn from different sources , uh , who express the truth , the same truth that you know one expresses as well . So , and he has a very unique way of sharing that .

So I have a question today , um , from Dylan G , who is , um , uh , you know , a long time listener and , uh , and , if you do have questions , you can always either WhatsApp me , email me or get in contact with me somehow , and I will always um reply , will always reply back or record a response , and so Dilanji asks .

In some of the Indian texts , like the Bhagavad Gita , when Krishna speaks to Arjuna , there are moments where his words carry such strength and power , for example , when he says things like do not worry about the body or fix your mind on me , without attachment to results .

It feels like he's not offering philosophical wisdom , but speaking from a place of courage and conviction . It sounds like he's also trying to instill courage into Arjun , who is understandably overwhelmed at the idea of fighting people he loves you know , the teachers , friends and relatives .

Similarly , when Swami Sravapriyanandaji speaks about Swami Vivekanandaji , it sounds like Swami Vivekanandaji also speaks with this energy of courage , strength and spiritual authority . And it made me reflect . It seems that in certain situations in life , having the right intent alone isn't enough . One also needs to bring forth the right energy , a purposeful , directed force .

From what I understand , this feels like a Rajasic type of energy , active , dynamic , full of resolve , as opposed to a more Damsic or even purely Sattvic state . It has a fire to it . I've noticed that it's better to go into something with the attitude of looking forward to something rather than dreading something .

For example , if you have a meeting coming up , instead going in with the attitude of fear and worry , if you go in with the attitude of I'm going to smash this presentation , you'll perform better and even if the outcome is a loss , you deal with the loss better and then you have more peace because the loss doesn't dwell .

And I find the same is true with exams and sports . This made me wonder how can one cultivate that kind of energy for day-to-day living . I know you've recommended meditating in the morning and I've heard that focus and determination are emphasized in many teachings .

But is there a particular approach , practice or mindset that helps you tap into that courageous energy right at the start of the day , almost like anchoring yourself in strength before stepping out into the world ? From my own thinking , I thought perhaps reminding oneself that I am not the body perhaps can help , but I don't feel the same energy when I do this .

It feels like such an important quality , not just for achieving goals but for walking the path with clarity and in the power . I haven't really focused on developing this consciously , but any advice you would have would be deeply appreciated .

That is a very wonderful question , um , and and there's a reason why I gave the background to that because dylan g , when I first uh interacted with him , uh , there was , uh , he was very different to what you're hearing now .

Um , you know , even in this , even though he's asking for courage , but I can tell you that he's really gained a lot of courage since the first time that I spoke to him , uh , and you know , when he reached out initially this was maybe a couple of years ago um , he really

took on board what I said and , um , and it came to fruition . Now there's a few things that I wanted to kind of address in there , and one thing is like the strength and the courage and that it looks like it's Rajasic . That's true to a certain degree .

Yes , there is Rajasic , but with Sri Krishna and even Arjuna and even Swami Vivekananda Ji , although , yes , there is elements of Rajasic , but it's actually grounded in Sattvic energy because it's pure . Now , the reason why it's pure is because there's no other intention , so they're not looking for something in return With something that's rajasic .

There may be some element of wanting something in return , an expectation of results , an eagerness to see the results , but when you do it with sattvic energy , you will have the same kind of energy , the free-flowing energy , the boundless energy that comes from existence , from Satchitananda . You will have that same energy that is sattvic and that will be moving you .

So with that you will not be expecting results . You just do things because that's important , that action is important , going down that path is important . So , yes , initially Sri Krishna is installing courage into Arjuna because he was fearful , he was scared , he was terrified , he was stressed out , he was having a panic attack .

So , you know , sri Krishna definitely did install courage into him and hence he was able to fight in the war later , to fight in the war later , and even when it comes to Swami Vivekananda Ji , you know , going up there to speak in Chicago you know that 100 years ago and to be so confident about one's religion , about one's dharma , and to do that with such

ease again , there is something of the divine at play here . You see , the reason why Arjuna could perform , the reason why Swami Vivekananda ji can perform or could perform , is because of , funny enough , I was reading the gospel of Sri Ramakrishna ji . I just picked it up and I just read a few pages of Sri Ramakrishna .

I just picked it up and I just read a few pages , and in there Sri Ramakrishna says that when God gives you the authority to speak , nothing can stop you and everyone will listen to you . Because that , then , is God speaking to you and that is God

performing through you or acting through you . And that's true whenever we see any spiritual teacher that we really admire and we just feel drawn to them , that's because they've had that authority from God to speak , from Ishwar , to share this wisdom . And obviously this depends if you believe in God or not .

I'm more on the side of you , know there is a God and you can utilize that energy and utilize those attributes . And so , yes , when God ordains , then you can speak , nothing will stop you .

And that's the courage where they got it from , from the attributes of Suguna Brahman from Ishvara , that courage where they got it from from the attributes of saguna brahman from ishara . That's where they got the strength from .

So , although , yes , sri krishna in his real state is nirgun , absolutely , but for the war , for fighting , then arjun had to utilize this saguna aspect of sri krishna , so that , but that doesn't mean that he forgot about the nirguna aspect , yeah , one can still act by balancing both perfectly well . So that's one thing .

And so how can you have this energy for day-to-day living ? There's two ways of looking at this , two answers that I would give . One is surrender to God . When you surrender yourself to something higher , then all the attributes of the higher enter into you and you then react , respond differently .

With that in mind , you will think like God , you will speak like God , you will hear , like God or the Guru , or whoever you consider to be the highest , whoever your Ish this , for the sake of this I say God then the whole of existence , the whole energy of existence is behind you . So how can you cultivate that energy ? One is to surrender .

If you surrender to Saguna , brahman , to Ishvara , to the Sagun or Sarkar aspect of the formless , then of consciousness , then that will help you . For sure , that will be a cultivation , because you will find strength from that . There's a reason why , in the Vedic times , they utilize the elements .

You know Surya , dev , agni , dev , vayu , and you know all these were there because , and they were worshipped they're not worshipped because they were more mightier , so to speak , but there was energies that you could get from them .

And likewise , you know there's so many attributes of of god that you can look at one of the books that I would recommend , um , if you want to look at the attributes of god , is the vishnu sahasranama , so the thousand names of vishnu . That's a great

way to just remind yourself of the qualities that are within you . Yes , they're , they're dormant in you . And and if you remind yourself of your true nature , which is this , this formless itself , this consciousness , then in that consciousness , remember , is the nirguna and saguna aspect .

So if you are that and I would say this is now leading to the second suggestion that remember who you truly are , which is this nirguna brahman , which is this formless awareness . And within this formless awareness is all forms . All forms get their energy from the formless .

Without the formless , the forms will have no energy at all , no way to function , no way to even exist . They exist because of the formless . So , in that play of existence , if you can see yourself as your true nature , which you are , you have all the courage in the world . See , you don't have to cultivate the courage

, you just have to discover the courage and that's all we have to do . That courage is boundless within you . It's so vast that you can take anything on in the world .

Because once you remember your true nature , or if you remember who you have with you as the formless , as Ishvara , as Sagunaless , as Ishvara , as Saguna , brahman , as Shukrishna , you will go through life with a lot more conviction and courage to face any ordeal .

So , whatever it is , maybe there's a fear that you have , you'll be able to address the fear that now , for example , I have a fear of heights . So there's a certain level I can go to , but after that I'm like , okay , I can't , I can't do more than that . I know my limits of the body . Now , yes , that also requires that certain courage is given .

When it comes to that , I have to be courageous . If I have to go a bit higher than I would normally like , I'll have to find that courage within . Then one remembers one's true nature and it becomes very easy . So , although , yes , you said that just reminding yourself that I am not the body definitely is not enough , that's not complete .

If you're not the body , then what are you ? That's what , something you're going to have to remember . So when you say I'm not the body , or I'm not the body , then what are you ? That's what , something you're going to have to remember . So when you say I'm not the body , uh , and . Or I'm not the mind , you're kind of just taking one half of the teaching .

The other half would be but what is your true nature ? Is this atman , is this brimman ? So , uh , yes , so to walk with that inner power that you talk about , one has to remember one's true nature .

And if that's a bit more challenging , then I would suggest the easier way would be to surrender to god and remember that god is a giver of all bounties , of all strength , of all courage , and with that you will also find there is courage for you . Um , okay , so that's my answer . If you have any follow ups , please do ask .

More than happy to answer those . And if anyone else has a question , you know you can always ask in the comments and I will definitely

address them in a podcast episode . Thank you very much for listening . Remember to do do like , comment and subscribe . If you want to join my discourse server , please do so and we can continue the discussion . And yes , do look after yourselves and just remember your true nature . Is this Nirgun Brahman , is this Nirakar , is this vast , boundless consciousness ?

And the more you remember that , the more you'll be at peace . Take care , everyone . Namaste .