Thursday, April 17, 2014

P for Power of Mind and Perseverance

Over the last few weeks, I have discussed issues currently plaguing our society and world at large  and they are bigotry, corruption, Inclusive Development, Good Governance, Engaging  Youth, Innovation and others. While we need to be earnest and keen on our approach to find a solution, in today’s discussion I would like to highlight of power of mind and perseverance – the two aspects at the individual level, if practiced and acquired, can do wonders in our own lives.


If we look at the below two thoughts from Swami Vivekananda, amongst his many, where he has harped over and over on cultivating the mind as a potent weapon,  the ideas have nothing to do with spirituality but are more applicable at the mundane level and directed for people like you and me. In his theory of Karma yoga where Work is Worship – the power of mind is an essential ingredient for any success to be achieved to uplift the downtrodden.

"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. …If we really want to be blessed, and make others blessed, we must go deeper."

"To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. “I will drink the ocean”, says the persevering soul; “at my will mountains will crumble up”. Have that sort of energy , that sort of will; work hard and you will reach the goal."

 ~ Swami Vivekananda.

While similar thoughts have been promulgated by other Indian leaders in recent times as well, incidentally I would like to point out that power of mind is not something discussed only in Indian literature by Indians.  Similar thoughts are echoed through the below sayings from other world leaders as well from time to time.

The Bible says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)
Quoting Voitaire, No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.

Albert Einstein says, The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking”.

Personally all of us have experienced the benefits of power of mind and perseverance at some point or other. It is only fitting that we extend this practice in all spheres that encompass our lives, in order to reap rich benefits

13 comments:

  1. It takes true perseverance and patience to succeed in anything...but it can be done. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kathy. Yes, these can be practiced seriously.

      Delete
  2. Thanks Jayanta for sharing these powerful words about the power of the mind and perseverance. The pre-requisites essential to take up and do anything well.

    Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mind is very powerful, it can make a hell or a heaven and its very true, agree with you, thanks for sharing !

    ReplyDelete
  4. Excellent post! Power of mind and perseverance are necessary ingredients for success.

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Take up one idea. Make that idea your life". - Love those words... So many great changes and actions in the world has started with just one powerful thought. Great post on the power of the mind Jayanta!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Power of mind indeed..with perseverance can help us go miles.. Loved Swami Vivekananda's quotes...

    http://ashalifeishope.blogspot.in/2014/04/proud-be-proud-of-self.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. Unless we persevere the universe doesn't bring us the things we want or take our lives through the paths we want...Life ain't easy and Perseverance is a quality that is needed for a happy and successful life...

    P for Petrified-Random Thoughts Naba

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have to agree that the more you focus on a single thought, the more power we vest in it. And after all, that is what the human mind is capable of. Absolute power and absolute perseverance, if we can but control the mind on other fronts.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love this part of the quote: "To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will." Sometimes it means failing over and over again. But you dust yourself off and then try again until you succeed.

    ReplyDelete
  10. About persistence I really think our politicians should try that. Whenever there are elections it seems as if nothing is happening in the country except politicians.
    Had they practised persistence by distributing this stuff (ad about how well they work and all) over the years, instead of doing everything right now, before the elections, our country would have been somewhere else today.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Swami Vivekananda has always been wise ! Thanks for sharing these thoughts here. The more we persist, the more we reap !

    ReplyDelete