Arjuna and his concentration power

The kids these days are very intelligent and are multi-skilled. Last week we heard a story about Guru-Shishya relationship. This week, we can listen to a story which portrays the characteristic of an ideal student.



Acharya Drona was the Guru for Princes' of Hastinapur. Both Gauravas and Pandavas were learning under his tutelage. One day, he wanted to test the archery skills of his students and hence called all of them. He hung a wooden bird on an apple tree in a garden. He instructed all of them to stand on a line and asked them to aim for the bird's eye. After few seconds, he called them one by one near him and while they aim for the bird's eye, he asked what they could see.



First came Bishma and he told that he could see a tree full of apples and a bird hanging on one of its brances. Drona asked him to go aside saying that his aim is not perfect.



Then came Dharma and he told that he could see many real birds in the apple tree but he aims to shoot the wooden bird hanging on one branch. Drona was disappointed and asked him to go aside mentioning his aim is also not perfect.



Then came Duryodhana and he told that he could see a colourful wooden bird with long wings and sharp beak, hanging on a tree. Disappointed Drona told that his aim is also not perfect and asked him to step down.



Finally came Arjuna, who is a favourite student of Dronacharya. He is favourite student because of his exemplary skills, concentration and devotion towards his Guru. He told that he could see only the eye of the wooden bird. Dronacharya was happy and asked him "What else do you see Arjuna?". He replied "I could see only the wooden bird's eye Guruji". Dronacharya patted him and told that his aim is absolutely perfect and asked him to shoot it.
The arrow from Arjuna's bow went straight and pierced the wooden bird's eye. All other students were disappointed for not letting them to shoot it. Dronacharya later called all his students and explained that in this world, there are many things would interests us, but while aiming for something, our complete focus should only be on that. Only when our aim is focused, we could achieve it. Arjuna could see only the bird's eye and not even the bird, so I was sure that he could shoot it.

Similarly in our lives, we might get drawn towards many things and gets distracted, but only if our efforts and aim is focused we will be able to achieve it.

As a responsible parent it is our duty to channelize our children's skills and make it focused which enables a bright future for them.



Tamil poet Barathiyar used to emphasize this in many of his songs.

oli padaitha kanninai va va va

urudhi konda nenjinai va va va

kani padaitha mozhiyinai va va va (2)

kadumai konda tholinai va va va

thelivu petra mathiyinai va va va

sirumai kondu ponguvai va va va

elimai kandiranguvai va va va

yeru pol nadayinai va va va

elaya barathathinai va va va

ezhilila balathinal va va va

oli ezhantha naatile nindrerum uthaya gnajiroppave va va va

kalai ezhantha naatile mun pole

kalai sirakka vanthanai va va va

vilayum manbu yavayum kaththan pol

vizhi ilal vilakave va va va


You can listen to the M.S Subbulakshmi's soul rising rendition here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsW_35hwVuE



Story taken from my 5th standard English Book

Guru Sishya Bandham - Surdas story

This time let us know a story about the Guru Sishya (disciple) relationship.



Surdas is an eager student who wants to learn about Spirituality. He met a Guru who accepted him as his disciple. The Guru was impressed by his urge and dedication to know about spiritual practices. As a Guru, he found that Surdas is hampered by his quality of getting angry easily, which prevents him from learning. Thus the Guru decided to make him shed his anger, and then teach him. He knew only then Surdas will be able to understand and learn better.



So, the Guru asked Surdas to chant his favourite Lord's name while doing all his activities, for one month and then meet him. Surdas consciously chanted Krishna Nama when he does all his activities. The day after a month, he woke up early, had his bath and rendered his daily prayers and went to meet his Guru. On his way to Guru's ashram, a sweeper on the street carelessly put dirt on his clothes. Surdas furiously scolded him for that and told that he had to go and bathe again. He then met his Guru and to his surprise the Guru told that Surdas is not yet ready to learn and he has to chant and do his chores for another month.



Surdas returned sadly thinking that he might not have chanted with utmost devotion and concentration. From then, he chanted Lord Krishna's name wholeheartedly while doing his chores.

After a month, he eagerly started to his Guruji's ashram and same thing happened again. The same sweeper mistakenly pushed along his dirty broom over Surdas. Surdas became really agitated and blamed the sweeper of doing it consciously. After bathing, he met his Guru and heard the same sentences from him.



One month passed away and this time the same incident happened when Surdas went to meet his Guru. However, this time the sweeper after seeing Surdas, reminded of Surdas's harsh words towards him and deliberately poured some dirt onto his head. To the sweeper's surprise this time Surdas addressed him softly saying "Thank you. You are my master. You made me to overcome my anger." The sweeper felt bad for his action.



This time as Surdas approached his Guru's hermitage, he could see his Guru standing in front of the hermitage welcoming him. Guru told Surdas that he is now ready to teach him. Surdas could now understand the process he went through.



There are many good values that we could imbibe from this story. Firstly, a Guru knows what a student is lacking of and knows the ways that would teach him (though it is a hard way).

Secondly, as a student, he should have utmost faith in Guru's words and follow them with devotion. Thirdly, sometimes in our lives, we might come across unpleasing incidents, but we should always be open to learn some lesson from that experience. Fourthly, Chanting Lord's name will create a change in our attitude and lives.



Here is a beautiful song of Surdas which most of you would have watched in ever enjoyable Shri Krishna serial in Doordarshan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keCiSa5hBB8



Another, Surdas bhajan with lyrics is below.



Hari Darsan Ki Pyaasi
Akhiyan Hari Darsan Ki Pyaasi (3)

( My eyes are thirsty for the vision of Lord (Hari).

Have not seen the lotus shaped of my Lord, so I remains sad day after day.)

Dekhiyo Chahat Kamal Nain Ko..
Nisdin Rehet Udaasi
Akhiyan Nisdin Rehet Udaasi..
Akhiyan Hari Darsan Ki Pyaasi

(My only want is to see the Lotus eyed Lord...This is the only thought each day sadly for me..)


Kesar Tilak Motiyan Ki Maala..
Brindavan Ko Vaasi..
Akhiyan Hari Darsan Ki Pyaasi..
Akhiyan Hari Darsan Ki Pyaasi..
(Lord Krishna who has a Tilak of Kesar (Saffron) on his forehead and wearing a neclace of sparkling gems (pearls)... The Lord Krishna who lives in Brindavan..)


Kahoke Manki Kovu Na Jaane..
Logan Ke Man Haasi..
Akhiyan Hari Darsan Ki Pyaasi..
Akhiyan Hari Darsan Ki Pyaasi..
(Nobody knows what is his (Lord Krishna's) divine leela, each individual's imagination making them all happy in the lord's thoughts.. Surdas - the poet) am sad as I am unable to bear this pain of not having your darshan..)


Surdas Prabhu Tumhare Daras Bin..
Layho Karvat Kaasi..
Akhiyan Hari Darsan Ki Pyaasi..
Akhiyan Hari Darsan Ki Pyaasi..

(I (Surdas - the poet) am sad as I am unable to bear this pain of not having your darshan..)



Listen to the Carnatic version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPs823Lfc4U

Listen to Hindustani version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLDXrE_4PHo&feature=related



Story Courtesy: www.balsanskar.com

Lyric Courtesy: www.hindi-bhajan-song-videos.com

Lets spread the good..

There are some questions that usually pops up in my mind always and to some of them I answer myself. However, I would like to know your thoughts on them which would give a different perception altogether.

So here goes them,

1. There are aplenty of stories, articles, songs and talks which emphasize Hindu Dharma and its values. In this digital world they also come in various forms, like ebooks, emails, videos, social networking communities and many more. First I wonder, is there actually a need associated with it.

Yes, there is a need for that always. I can relate with my experience. I have read that our brain and mind, needs to be in constant touch with the skills we want to possess. Otherwise, they will be slowly forgotten. That is why our ancestors insisted on Abhyasam (Practice) and Adhyayanam (Study) and also on SatSangh (good association). Many things that I read and practiced before both spiritually and professionally, are lost in touch now as I have not practiced them consciously. I became aware of that only during some worse situation. Only by constant emphasis of our values and ethics through stories, shlokas etc, I believe we can live our life on track.

2. Now, that I have understood the importance of Abhyasam, I wonder is it enough to practise ourselves and may be impart that to our family. Does it make significance if you have to spread the values you practise to others?

I am really not good in roping people to practise the values that I believe are good. May be I can spread a word about what I do, but really do not push. But when I give a thought of is it all important to spread the values, I have to admit that it is so. And those who do it should be having loads of persistence. Thats where all Satsangh comes into picture. In the present times, people perception largely differs when there is a mention of Satsangh.. It is nothing but being together and doing good together. It really makes a difference when many people are aligned and do somethings together (yes of course constructive).

What is that one get by putting effort to spread values? Fame. Maybe, yes. But that is a side effect and not the root cause. When the root cause behind these efforts is to have compassion towards people who are not aware of such values and hence do not experience them, then all the efforts becomes impeccable. They are not stained by the side effect Fame. As the tamil poet Tirumoolar rightly said, "Yaam petra enbam peruga evvayagam"  meaning "Let the people all over the world be benefited with the Joy I am blessed with"

I could quote two great people from Tamil culture, who emphasized the importance of spreading good.

1. Ramanujar - He is a saint who knocked the doors of his Guru Yamunacharya 17times to get Mantra upadesham and only got upadesham of "Om Namo Narayanaya" mantra in his 18th time and promised not to tell it to anyone and knew if he broke his promise, his head would splatter. But, later he went to the tower of temple "Thirukoshtiyur" and disclosed it to the whole village. He told his guru then, that he would be happy when many people attains benefit of this Mantra instead of him alone. This signifies the importance of spreading goodness.

2. Thiruppavai is a set of songs sung by Andal during the month of Marghazi (dec 15 - jan 13). In the first shloka itself, she calls on all her friends, and tell the importance of the Satsangh and singing praises of Lord. In the later shloka, she mentions waking up her friend saying you have more important job than sleeping. And, its true that sometimes we need to wake up people from their ignorance and it is for sure that you will be faced with challenges.

Both of them does not impart the good values to their family. They want to impart that to the society.

We are now living far from our home country where there is so much of possibility for being in a Satsangh. However, Saptakam, a multi cultural group in Tampere, Finland gives us an opportunity to have the similar feeling. I should also mention here Mr. Ajey Gotkhindikar, the person who wanted people to relish the values of our culture and hence pour in all his relentless efforts to spread the values of our culture. I pray God to grace him in his efforts.

I hope we all have some good values to be shared to others and also learn from others. Lets spread the good we know by whatever means we could. 

Story Behind Giridhara Gopala

All our kids like Hanuman and enjoy his stories. Here is one story involving Hanuman from Ramayana.



Lord Rama was making Sethu Bandana (Sethu Bridge) across Indian Ocean to reach Lanka and rescue Seethamma. Sugriva along with his army chief Hanuman, Jambavan, Nal, Neel and others helped Lord Rama in his endeavor. Sugriva commanded all his army soldiers and chief to collect stones, rocks and mountains from all directions in order to construct the bridge.

Nal and Neel have got a boon that whatever they throw on sea will float. So they both were throwing all the stones and rocks that others bring on the ocean. Hanuman went to the north near Indraprastham in search of big mountain and found Govardhana Giri (Mountain). Govardhana Giri is a great Baktha and looking into each opportunity to serve for Lord Rama. Govardhana was very happy on seeing Hanuman and when Hanuman pleaded to take him for constructing Sethu Bandana, Govaradhana was immensely felt blessed.But suddenly some soldiers of Sugriva came to Hanuman, informing that Sethu Bandana is completed and it is time for us to march towards Lanka and rescue Seethamma.

On hearing this Govardhana felt very bad and thought that he is not fortunate enough to serve for Lord Rama. However Hanuman, being a Bhaktha could understand the feelings of another Bhaktha and assured him of conveying his Bhakthi to Lord Rama. As soon as he reached Rameswaram and saw Lord Rama, Hanuman described about Govardhana's bhakthi towards Him and how he felt bad for not getting a chance to serve Him. Lord Rama became very happy on hearing this, and gave a boon to Govardhana, that He will grace Govardhana by Uddharanam (lifting) when He takes Krishna avatar.



During Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krishna assured the people from saving Indra's anger and continuous rain in Vrindavanam and thus lifted Govardhana Giri which is located near Vrindavanam. Govardhana Giri felt blessed by His grace and realized that true Bhakthi will always be acknowledged by Lord. Indeed Krishna is named after this incident as Giridhara Gopala, who is the devoted Lord of Meera Bai. All Meera Bai songs refer to Giridhara Gopala and she sings how beautiful Lord Krishna is as a Giridhara Gopala in the below song.

This incident shows how true Bhakthi is valued and how fortunate Govardhana Giri to find place in another true Bhaktha, Meera Bai.



Song: mErE tO giridhara gOpaala (bhajan)

mErE thO giridara gOpala
raagam: behaag

29 dheera shankaraabharaNam janya
Aa: S G3 M1 P N3 D2 N3 S
Av: S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

taaLam: aadi
Composer: Meera
Language: Hindi



pallavi

mErE to giridhara gOpala dUsaro na kOyi



caraNam

JAkEshira mOra mukuda mErOpati sOyi
Shanka chakra gadA padma kandamAla sOyi
TAta mAta prAta banddhu aApanO na kOyi
ChAnda dayI kulaki kAna kyAkaraika kOyi
Santana sanga baita baita lOkalAja kOyi
ApatO pAda pailakayi janE sab kOyi
Asuvana jala sIncha sIncha prEma pEli poyi
MIrA prabhu lagana lagI hOni hOsa hOyi



Meaning:

My Lord is Giridhar Gopal and none else. He wears the crown decorated with the feathers of a peacock. The conch, the discus, the mace and the lotus flower all suit Him. Now I do not have any relations like father, mother and brother. I am not bothered about what people talk about me while I sit in the company of saints and monks. I am nurturing the Creeper of Love by the waters of my tears. Now Meera is immersed in God, so let whatever might happen.



Listen to this soulful rendering of the song by great singer M.S.Subbulakshmi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26JoBNcsPuw&feature=related



Story Courtesy: www.moralstories.com

Song Lyric Courtesy: www.karnatik.com



Here are Hindusthani Versions of this same Bhajan. It is really interesting to hear different ways to present same Bhajan. Rich variety and diversity of singing styles, Raagas etc in Bharatiya Sangeet and above all a freedom of mind strongly attributing to our culture, allows one to make so many improvisation. May this be a reason we visualise God also in different ways and yet have faith in one Eternal Power.

Mere to Giridhar Gopal Bhajan

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz5_E3q-UH4 - By Lata Mangeshkar
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y7JV40qeSE - By Chitra Singh
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDz3wb5nh0g&feature=related - By Vani Jayram and Dinkar Kaikini, Music by Pandit Ravi Shankanr

In continuation with my previous post...

[PS: Please read my previous post to get the context]
How can I close my previous post saying that "Only few, but not all peoples' pursuits will reap fruit"!!
Arjuna asks Krishna, the same basic question which pops in our mind. If my pursuits is not going to yield me what I am in search of, why do I even strive hard and pursue my efforts? I can simply settle with what I am having and enjoy the worldly pleasures. Why do we need to stretch ourselves?


Lord Krishna gives him (and yes to all of us) a satisfying reply which we could realize only with some profound understanding. He says, though all those efforts you put does not reap fruit, it has made you acquire essential skills. Those are the skills, which facilitates you to achieve what you want. Though you (as a body) die, these skills and attributes you gained through your toiled effort remains with your soul. It is with these skills and attributes, you are reborn. And thus makes your subsequent efforts easy and quicker, helping you to achieve what you want in subsequent rebirths.
So believe that your efforts are not getting waste, just because you do not achieve what you want. You have gained innate skills which is carried over your rebirths.
Your rebirth will be in a place which would enable you to proceed with your ambition and thus says in Chapter 6, Shloka 43,

 So it is assured that all our efforts are not vain though we do not get what we want (on that birth).
I always used to correlate these words of Lord Krishna, with saints like Ramana Maharishi, scientists like Einstein and socialist like Mother Theresa. They all questioned the same things that we had in our mind, like "Who Am I", "What is relativity" and "Who can serve those poor people?" respectively.
The difference between them and us (or me perhaps) is how seriously and sincerely they attempted to get an answer for those questions.


I pray and wish God, to involve us sincerely in getting answers to our questions.

Implied Meaning of Lord Krishna's pranks

When we were children, we would have loved to hear and watch Lord Krishna's pranks. But little do we know, that they are merely not only His pranks, but also contains implied teachings of Dharma, which one has to follow. There are few such teachings being mentioned through this story.

1. Lord Krishna used to play with Gopabalakas who are His friends. One day He along with His friends entered a Gopika's house silently. The gopika in that house would not treat guests and other kids well and do not usually keep eatables outside in fear of surprise guests. Krishna and His friends found that there is neither milk nor butter in the pot hanging from the ceiling. So He got angry and threw the pot on the floor and broke it. This Gopika went to Yashoda and complained about Krishna's prank. When Yashoda enquired Krishna about this, He humbly told that the Gopika did not behave like a Aditi. She did not follow Aditi Dharma. As a good householder, she should have thought about guests, under privileged gopabalakas, aged persons as her own kith and kin, and thus should have saved some food for them. As she ignored Aditi Dharma, Krishna wanted to teach her the importance of it, and hence broke the pot.

According to our Baratheeya culture, we have to save some food to serve in cases of surprise guests or under privileged people. We should never keep food stuff empty and also have to serve Aditi the same way as we treat our own kith and kin. (Story of Nachiketa illustrates the importance of treating Aditi well)



2. Lord Krishna as part of his plays with gopabalakas, used to free off the calves and pave way for them to go and drink to their cows. All gopikas got angry on seeing this and complained Yashoda that their cow's milk got wasted by Him and they could not feed their children and make livelihood from cow's milk.

However Krishna wants us to teach them, that we have to be compassionate to animals, birds and other living beings in this earth as our fellow human beings. Just because we have power over them, we should not exploit those creatures. The hungry calf experiences the same grief as our child and hence it is important to milk cows only after the calves have their stomach full. And keeping this in mind, we should not waste milk, and has to consider it as calf's food.



There is a famous song by Mahakavi Barathiyar (Tamil poet), which sings about the pranks of Lord Krishna.



Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai
By Mahakavi Bharathi

Raga: Raga Malika
Thala: Aadi

Pallavi

Theeratha vilayatu pillai, Kannan,
Theruvile pengalukku oyatha thollai

Anupallavi

Thinna pazham kondu tharuvan-pathi
Thingindra pothinile thatti parippan,
Yennappan yennayyan yendral athanai,
Echir paduthi kadithu koduppan.

Charanam

1. Azhagulla malar kondu vande-yennai,
Azha azha cheythu pin, kannai moodi kol,
Kuzhalile chootuven, yenban, Yennai,
Kurudaki malarinai thozhikku vaipan,

2. Pinnalai pinnindru izhuppan-thalai,
Pinne thirumbu munne chendru maraivan,
Vanna puthu chelai thanile-puzhuthi,
Vari chorinthe varuthi kulaippan.

3. Pullanguzhal kondu varuvan-amudhu,
Pongi thathumbum geetham padippan,
Kallal mayanguvathu pole adai,
Kan moodi vay thirandhe ketpom.



English Translation:

Pallavi


Krishna is an ever playful boy,
And women in the streets are in endless trouble

Anupallavi

He would give fruits to eat-but,
While half eaten, he would snatch it from you.
If we say my lord and my darling, then he wood,
Mix it with his saliva by biting and give it back.

Charanam

1. He would bring very pretty flowers,
And after making me weep and then cry,
He would say, close your eyes,
I will set them on your hairs and once,
I become blind, he would keep it to my friend.

2. He would pull my braid from behind,
And before I turn, he would hide in front.
In the new coloured sari that I wear,
He would rain dust and spoil it.

3. He would bring a flute and play,
In it a song dripping with nectar,
And then we would close our eyes,
With an open mouth and be like,
One who has fainted due to wine.

Story Courtesy: www.moralstories.blogpost.com

Lyric Courtesy: www.celextel.org



PS: I have tried an attempt to relate a song to the stories I write here. Hopefully I find some more of this kind.

Think good wherever you are

In a city called Madhura, there are two friends by name Rama and Soma.Both of them have
similar interests and used to roam together. A saint named Vedasaagara used to visit Madhura
once in a while and used to give discourse on epics. Rama and Soma one day attended the
discourse and liked it very much. Thereafter they conceive saint Vedasaagara as their Guru
and used to attend his discourses without fail.

They also share other similar interests like listening to cinema music and watching
dance functions. One day, Soma came to know that there is going to be a dance function
that weekend, which they wanted to see for a long time. At the same time, Rama came to know
that their Guru is going to give discourse that weekend. When they met, they shared this
information. Both of them are interested towards attending the dance function and the
discourse and hence are in a dilemma. Soma told that he would attend the dance function
as, he will not get another chance. But Rama told that he would attend Guru's discourse.

On the function day, Soma went to theatre to enjoy the dance function and Rama went to the
discourse hall.Though Soma wanted to enjoy the dance function, his heart is filled with
his Guru's previous talks. He wondered what his Guru would talk today and realized that
he should have attended the discourse instead of the dance function. Soma on the other hand,
could not concentate on his Guru's talks, as his mind is engrossed in the dance function.
He thought he has missed that eventful day which will not come again.

At the end of the day, Soma and Rama met and discussed about their day. Soma told that he
should have attended their Guru's discourse, which is incomparable and he missed to receive
his blessings. On hearing this, Rama confessed his guilty of not being able to concentrate
on Guru's talks.
They both later realized that it does not matter in which place they are, what is important
is "what they think and what they do".

Moral: Though we are far away from our Bharat Desha, we can still follow our cultural values
in the place where we live.



Source: Excerpt from "Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Amutha Mozhigal" (Golden words of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa)

Drop Outs!!!

Today, as I read about Steve Jobs and found that he is also a drop out from Reed college, I was surprised! Some of the successful people I know who are also college drop outs are Bill Gates, Michael Dell and Mukesh Ambani. 

I believe they dropped out from the college, not just to pursue something that interests them. More than an interest, it should be their deep hearted passion, otherwise they would not have become so successful. On giving a profound thinking about drop outs and sincere academic student (like me!!!), I understand that earlier ones follow their hearts and brains, while later ones (yes, like me) follow what is told by others! 

Yes, I have always been asked to do something at school and college, and I did it good and gave my best. Even at my job, I was assigned some work and I was able to complete it. Though the companies welcome their employees to do some hobby projects, the primary mode of working is still "Assignment".  Little did I do myself, like taking photos and making videos. It is more like a hobby, but I have to accept that my passion is dwindling these days.. I am not passionate enough to throw away my job and take my passion as a job!

When I started working at Nokia, where the work is more liberal and employees are encouraged to take up tasks from a work pool, rather than being assigned, I was quite staggered. It was a completely new experience for me. It took some months for me to understand how I can contribute myself to the team, by knowing what I can do, how I can involve my skill to solve the problems in hand and what I can learn to increase my participation. Thats the scrum way of doing things. But to be honest, I am still learning those soft skills.

Besides, I remember at home, my parents and grandma always used to say, do it on your own and don't wait for someone to tell you. These dialogues usually pop up, when they see me near some messy place(usually my clothes and book shelves) or some cluttered room. I am citing this event, to insist that "doing by yourself" attitude can be cultivated at home also. But only when an individual realizes it, and practises it, he can blossom into a successful person. I have realized it only now and its not too late for me to practise it.

And before I end this post, I have to tell that it is not easy to follow your dreams and being passionate. 

I am sure many of us do day-dream, 

and some of them want to pursue it,

and only some take steps to pursue it,

and only few of them are able to proceed with it,

and only few of them are successful in it,

and only very few could withstand the downtimes and pursue it all the time! 

Like Steve Jobs, who had been thrown out of his own company, after many years, came back as its CEO again..

I am reminded of a Bhagavat Geetha Shloka here. Lord Krishna says in Chapter 7, Sloka 3,

Out of many thousands of men, hardly one endeavors for the perfection of self-realization, and of those so endeavoring hardly, only one has achieved the perfection of self-realization and of those hardly one knows Me in truth.

Yes, all of us need persistence and determination to realize our passion. As always, I am all ears to your thoughts about this post and its only our exchange of views gives us more clarity!

Words from me....

When you are in the course of not-so-good times, where most of the things happens as you don't expect, we might get frustrated.


But believe me, it prepares you, both emotionally and intellectually, to face the worse with courage and determination.