THIS MONTH, the world’s attention will be drawn to the Olympics, an absorbing display of self-belief and personal bests: of failure and glory, of villains and legends.
But this time, the Olympics’ boisterous intensity will be eerily subdued, ensnared by the subtle threat of Covid-19. Limited crowds will watch in muted excitement as elite athletes stretch their bodies, minds and wills to the zenith. No encouraging cheers, coordinated claps, Mexican waves. Minimal help from the external world this time for the athletes. This time, they’re compelled to draw, even more, on their inner resources.
For most athletes, gold or any medal is an elusive dream. Reaching the finals or even qualifying for the Olympic Games already fulfils a big part of their dreams. For the Spiritual Athletes – we, the struggling aspirants – the gold ‘medal’ of deep, unwavering meditation seems as elusive as the winners’ dais.
There is only so far that our Guru ‘Coaches’ and spiritual ‘training’ techniques can take us. They compel us to compete against racing thoughts, to clear the hurdles of disturbing memories and desires, to outmanoeuvre the mental gymnastics of the restless mind, and to find peace through a dive deep into the calm depths of our soul.
Time to draw on the natural ‘spiritual’ talent within us all.
- Exertion is my beast of burden; carrying me to Nirvana he goes without turning back to the place where having gone one does not grieve. –The Buddha
- Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. – St.Paul
- Success is speedy for the energetic. – Patanjali
- Energy is like a muscle; it grows stronger through being used. – Swami Prabhavananda
- Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced.” – Swami Vivekananda
