(Plants sprouting. Photo by Hannes Knutsson, courtesy of Unsplash)
There is a Hindu scripture that compares our human mind with a monkey. It says that the mind is like a monkey—a drunken monkey. And not just like a drunken monkey, but like a drunken monkey bitten by a scorpion. Just imagine the condition of that monkey! So, how are you going to control the mind? How are you going to make it one‑pointed and peaceful? That is the challenge given to each of us in this life.
The monkey mind is given to you to see how you can train it and how you can make use of it in service of humanity. If, at the outset, you were given a nice, well‑trained mind, you wouldn’t have the opportunity to develop your expertise. So it’s purposely given to you in this untrained condition. It is as if you have been issued a challenge: “Here is a wild monkey. Tame it! Let me see your abilities.”
That is nature’s way of helping us to develop our abilities. To better understand this idea, let’s take a look at weight lifters. If someone wants to develop their muscles, would they try and lift feathers? That would be very comfortable and easy to do, but will it help build muscles? No. To develop the biceps and triceps, you need some resistance to push against. And as you progress, you add a little more and a little more weight. The pushing and pulling against the weight is what creates the resistance which in turn develops the muscles. If we are ready to do all that for the physical muscles, wouldn’t we want to do that to build our mental and spiritual muscles? There is more required of you to develop your total and full potential in life.
We can also look at the surfers who enjoy the challenge of big waves. Once they have reached a certain level of skill, they will look for bigger and bigger waves to challenge them and to enjoy. But isn’t it the nature of the ocean to create big waves that come and dash up against you? Yet, the surfers seem to realize that and still they seek out the bigger waves. Can you imagine seeing a surfer sitting on the shore and crying, “Oh dear, I went into the sea to surf and the water came up and created all kinds of big waves.” The surfer goes into the water just for that purpose and to have that kind of challenge and fun. That is why they are called “surfers” and not “sufferers.”
We too should realize that the nature of the mind is to constantly change and be “wavy.” You should learn how to surf on the waves of the mind, rather than being tossed and beaten by them. Always affirm that you are not going to be the slave of the mind; you are going to be the master. Use challenges and obstacles as opportunities to exercise your mastery.
Obstacles are tests that draw out our inner capabilities. That is the very reason that life is filled with all kinds of challenges. Only by challenges can you bring out your energy, your intelligence, your capabilities. We always need challenges. We should never get disheartened by the challenges. I also like to use the example of a little seed to explain this principle. If you simply put it in the ground and say, “Seed, grow into a nice, big tree,” it won’t grow. There is no challenge there. Instead, dig a hole, put the seed in there and close up the hole and then say, “Stay put there! Don’t do anything!” Very soon, that little seed begins to sprout as if to say, “Ha! You think you are going to hold me down and keep me in there? No way. I am going to sprout.” Very soon you will see that little sprout push its way through the earth and into the sunlight.
“Necessity is the mother of invention,” we often say. This is very true. Life should be filled with the necessities so that you can bring out your capabilities. And the beautiful thing is that you are not putting something into you that wasn’t already there. Abilities and talents are not put in from the outside. It’s like the example of the seed. Does the gardener come along and open up the seed and place a tree inside of it? It already contains the potential of a tree within it. Nature only draws out that potential and enables it to express itself. The same thing with human beings. We are all a part of the nature.
All kinds of capabilities are in you already. But you don’t even know that you have the capability until and unless you see a challenge. Then the ability is brought to the surface. That is how challenges, obstacles, and difficulties make us realize our capabilities. Without challenges you won’t gain anything much.
