Life is an Endurance Test

Dr. Rajesh Bhola

India

Jul 04, 2014

The loss of a job, the evaporation of a life’s savings, a critical illness, the loss of a loved one, or simply living in the midst of a world that too often seems to be driven by fear, hatred and distrust – any one of these experiences can thrust us into the narrow, churning, ominous rapids in our stream of life. Life requires us to tough it out and hang in there in hope and trust, until we emerge into calmer waters. An inescapable facet of our life’s journey is that during many critical moments we are simply called upon to endure and trust. Life is quite an endurance test. All of us, at some time, have felt like just giving up - when the going seemed just too rough, tough and difficult. After Winston Churchill lost his re-election bid (for Prime Minister) his wife said, “Well, it is probably a blessing in disguise.” He replied, “If it is a blessing, then it is well disguised.” Something similar is how we feel when we are down and out. However, our behaviour and actions at such times of hardship are what define us. We are ‘tested’ for our authenticity. Here, perspective is important. If we have the ‘right’ point of view, if we view the situation ‘correctly’, we can endure much. Once we see any hardship in the correct perspective, we can better transcend it and overcome it. For example, dealing with fear is often a matter of adjusting our perspective; it may be just a matter of nurturing false expectations, which appear to us to be real. In these circumstances patience is truly virtue. In Hindu philosophy, patience means being able to stoically bear the consequences of one's action and deeds. It is also the capacity to endure opposites - such as pain and pleasure, cold and heat, sorrows and joys - calmly, without anxiety, and without a desire to seek revenge. Patience reflects the state of one's body and mind. Endurance is our state, power or capacity to suffer…patiently. Too often people embarking on a spiritual life forget that endurance is a virtue, and the effort to cleanse one’s life from sin can be tiresome and long. 

When we do face our test(s) we have to decide whether to endure, give up or settle (maybe for a ‘consolation prize’). Human beings can learn from some animals that have unique endurance and reflective energies. They live on through their tough journeys, ungrudgingly. Donkeys can teach us much about patience and humility. They can aid us in realising our inner potentials - the strength that comes from internal fortitude. Bats can teach us to trust our instincts - to better navigate in the dark and the unknown. We can learn to be more sensitive to the vibrations around us. Buffaloes teach us the reward of carrying burdens, keeping ourselves well grounded and following a simple path. Cows aid us to be easy going and living in the moment – and demonstrate how to eat ‘properly’. Goats teach us agility and surefootedness; they can guide us well over rough paths. Dogs remind us of protection, companionship and faithfulness. A dog is a symbol of unconditional acceptance and love. As humans, how much compassion do we show for others? Are we just protectors, or also good companions, full of playfulness and joy? Each creature is blessed with some exceptional virtue. Even those that are silent and look meek can endure well; they live their lives with fortitude. If we can imbibe these animal spirits, we will soon see the world in a new perspective.

We have to learn to constantly endure – to always show up and to keep on walking. Then, like a seed that mysteriously blossoms in the darkness, our own seed too will begin to blossom. Endurance is the spirit that helps us bear our hardships with hope, rather than resignation. It keeps a man on his feet even when his face is to the strong wind. It is the virtue that helps us ‘see’ the gain that lies ahead of the pain. Life is a marathon hurdle-race. Enjoy running it. It is a test of our endurance. Learn the art of scaling over each hurdle. If you trip, get up and keep going. It may not be easy. The race of life is won through blood, sweat and tears. However, it is not only about winning - it is also about how well we endure, and how we finish our race. Above all, let us always have faith in Him – a faith so firm that no violent storm(s) can uproot it. And even as we endure, let us focus more on the spiritual than the physical.