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The Triple ‘P’ formula to overcome obstacles

As a young nineteen year old Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was often a victim of abuse and swearing by those suffering from anger and negativity. Since Richard showed by his appearance that he was protesting against the mainstream values driven by money, power and prejudice, he became an open target for people to vent out their frustrations. He too got angry at the humiliation but would struggle to quell it, for he was on a spiritual quest. His desire to live a life centered on noble ideals attracted no sympathy from the police who often harassed him. Although Richard bore no malice towards anyone, his unconventional appearance of keeping his hair long attracted hateful reactions. He silently hoped these difficulties would help him grow; he sought to cultivate patience, perseverance and prayer to overcome the obstacles on his spiritual journey.

Radhanath Swami is sharing with us the magic formula for success- the Triple ‘P’ formula- patience, perseverance and prayer. On careful observation we can see the uniqueness of these three values to help us grow in our spiritual lives. Radhanath Swami has remarkably highlighted two apparent contradictory values-patience and perseverance. Without proper training, our patience can lead one to be lazy. On the other hand, if we focus only on perseverance, our determination can make us restless to achieve the results. If we are drifting to restlessness in our determined endeavor, we need to practice patience and if our patience tends to make us lazy, we need to remember the virtue of perseverance that Radhanath Swami beautifully emphasizes in this section of the ‘Journey Home’. How can we balance both patience and perseverance? Radhanath Swami brilliantly reveals the third and most important element, ‘Prayer’ as the key. A culture of prayer helps us tap the power of conscience within and gives us the discrimination to balance patience and determination. Prayers also give a spiritual aspirant the necessary confidence to not get bogged down when results don’t come according to our expectations.

Once Radhanath Swami gave an interesting example in his talk; in the confrontation between the rock and the stream who wins? It’s the stream who wins, not through strength but through perseverance. Radhanath Swami also reveals that God is our loving father and He shall happily fulfill all our spiritual ambitions and needs. However God does it not as per our timetable but at his own time. Is this a limitation of God that He isn’t prompt in fulfilling His promises and our needs? Radhanath Swami assures, “No! God just wants us all to be prepared to receive His benevolence.” Radhanath Swami reasons that God wants us to be grateful when we get His mercy; hence He increases our yearning for it.

On hearing Radhanath Swami’s words of wisdom on patience, I am reminded of the fifteenth century philosopher Leonardo da Vinci who said, “Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For, if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will then be powerless to vex your mind.”

Source: http://www.radhanath-swami.net/the-triple-%E2%80%98p%E2%80%99-formula-to-overcome-obstacles/triple-formula-overcome-obstacles

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