Episode 176: The Five Strengths

Today I'd like to introduce a traditional list called “the five strengths” — determination, faith, virtue, remorse, and aspiration  •  determination points to the need to stick with the path we're on, the path we've chosen  •  it’s connected with patience, recognizing that genuine spiritual training is not a quick fix, but a lifelong process  •  faith is trusting that what we're doing is worthwhile and valid, and it’s also the confidence that we are worthwhile and valid  •  determination is balanced by faith: there's no point in being determined to do something if we don't think we can do it, or if we don't fundamentally think it's worthwhile  •  the third strength is literally called seed of virtue; it has to do with a sense of compassion and ethical behavior  •  virtues are seeds that bear fruit: when we do something kind, something helpful to another, it bears fruit, it ripples out  •  the last two are remorse, which is is pointing to the things we need to let go of, and aspiration, which is pointing to what we need to cultivate  •  remorse means being honest and straightforward in reflecting on our behavior  •  aspiration doesn’t have to be a change-the-world aspiration; it could be something simple: maybe I could try not to be so easily triggered; maybe I could be a little bit more thoughtful to others.