The Unexpected Power of Overcoming Weakness

Tonight I had a flash of insight into a power that comes from conquering a weakness. This needs to be written down because it is significant. When we overcome a weakness we certainly become stronger, but we also gain something unexpected. A power is granted to us that allows us to see this same weakness in others.

Because we have conquered this weakness in ourselves we know it intimately. We can see the same behavior in others with great clarity. Previously, we might have easily recognized this character flaw or negative trait in others, however, at that time we could not face it without a little shame, or some fear, or embarrassment. So we used to turn away from this reflection, ignore it, tolerate it, or perhaps encourage it. Now that we have fully vanquished this foe in ourselves, when we see others wrestling with their own challenge, we have a completely different view.

It is a compassionate point of view. It is a view that allows us to look at the patten of behavior with full awareness of all the consequences. We see the traps, the pitfalls, the lure of the bait, and we know without a doubt what happens when a human being falls into the trap and takes the bait.

We know that this happens countless times over and over. We know the tremendous difficulty in resisting the trap. The suffering is great, but the lies that we tell ourselves serve to camouflage the suffering. In this way we hide the traps as soon as we discover them. In this way we encounter the same traps and the same suffering over and over again.

However, now we are masters of that trail. Our eyes can see all the signs of danger; we can avoid the traps and snares without effort. We no longer deceive our self in regards to the suffering. The truth of the suffering is the First Noble Truth. The nature of the deception is the origin of the suffering. This is the Second Noble Truth.

We also know that this gifted sight that we have gained does not come cheaply. It is not obtained easily and without effort. Therefore, this compassionate view understands that overcoming weakness and suffering cannot be granted by an external force. Although we now have the compassionate view we cannot verbally convince others to abandon their negative behavior. We cannot draw a diagram that spontaneously allows them to know all of the self-deceptions and gain the vision of freedom. Every one must fight the good fight for themselves.

Intellectually knowing that weakness can be overcome and that there is an end to suffering is a wonderful gift. The paradox is that we really don't truly believe this until we realize it for ourselves. Hope and faith increase steadily when realization arises from conquering one small weakness and then another. This is the power of prayer and meditation and spiritual practice.

After some long and persistent effort, when we reach the summit as conqueror of a major weakness we gain the vision which is the unexpected power of overcoming weakness. We obtain the realization of the cessation of suffering and we become awake to the Third Noble Truth.

Now we truly know that our journey had merit. There is no nobler path. The compassionate view is the ultimate strength and power. The ability to look at weakness and its consequence without fear is our greatest strength. There is no pity and no judgement, because we know the path from weakness and suffering to conqueror and freedom is a journey that we all must take on our own, and in our own way. This is the Fourth Noble Truth.

Om Mani Padme Hum
Karma Lodro Gyaltsen