So whether great or low, we all are in possession of an internal strength which is unlimited and potentially divine. Due to thick veil of ignorance, we are unaware of it and crying for help from outside.

We consider ourselves as powerless, a helpless wreak in an ever-raging, ever-crushing, uncompromising current of cause and effect – a little moth placed under the wheel of causation which rolls on crushing everything in its way and waits not for the widow’s tears or the orphan’s cry.

We are leading a life under the shadow of constant fear. The deer has only one class of hunters to be afraid of. We are overpowered with numerous kinds of fear – fear of losing wealth amassed with fair or foul means, fear of departing from dear and near ones, fears of disease and death and so on. This list is without ending.

Is there no hope? Is there no escape? This was the cry that went up from the heart of despair. It reached the throne of mercy and words of hope and consolation came down and inspired a sage and he stood up before the world and in trumpet voice proclaimed the good tidings, “Hear! I have found the Ancient One who is beyond all darkness, all delusion. By knowing Him alone will you be saved from all fears whatsoever they may be.”

And the Ancient One whom you were searching in temples and churches, whom you were searching in hill and dale, whom you were searching in caves and brooks, whom you were imagining as sitting in heaven and ruling the world, is your own Self, your own inner strength which know no weakness, no misery and no sorrow. You are He and He is you. None but you were God and this little you never existed.

To regain the inner strength, to realize it one must do the meditation constantly and regularly. Gurudev Shri Ji says, “Through meditation, you get your inner strength which is your own and which has not to be borrowed from any other source. You simply have to realize it through meditation which is a simple natural process. It is not a technique. You don’t have to undergo any physical or mental strenuous exercises. Sit in a comfortable posture and close your eyes. Watch, watch and watch whatever is going on inside. There is thick darkness, dead silence and constant crowd of thoughts. Don’t get involved in any thought. Simply watch and watch. Thoughts will diminish and disappear eventually and you will enjoy peace tranquility and bliss which is your true nature. You attain Inner Strength.”

Only reading the scriptures, listening to sermons and even doing the charitable work won’t enable you to realize your inner strength. They are good and a help but won’t take us far enough because there is a danger of enlarging our false ego. It is the deep meditation which will take us to the truth that all strength is within us. All the darkness will vanish. When man has seen himself one with the Infinite Being of the universe, when all separateness has ceased when all men and women, all gods and angels, all animals and planets and the whole universe have melted into the Oneness (just like clay or water) then all fear disappears. When I realize my inner strength, whom am I to fear? Can I kill myself? Can I injure myself? Then all sorrow will disappear. What can cause sorrow?

Against whom can I have any bad feeling? Can it be against myself? There is none in the universe but me. When you really realize this Oneness, you attain inner strength which can overcome any obstacles and troubles and tribulations. The stories of great ones from rags to riches, from unknown, humble home to great glory of name and fame are the stories of Inner Strength.

So enough of weeping and crying! This will not solve any problem. We have wept long enough. No more weeping. Stand on your own feet; realize your inner strength and be what you are in reality. Help yourself by yourself. Have faith in yourself. Old view was that an atheist was he who did not believe in God. Modern thinking is that he is an  atheist who does not believe in himself, in his own inner strength. Strength, strength, strength is the watchword of Bhagwad Gita & Upnishads, “O Arjuna, Where have you got this cowardice, this weakness. It does not become you.”

O man, be not weak because immense strength lies within you. Are there no human weaknesses? Thus says weak people. Yes, there are but will mere weakness heal them? Will dirt wash dirt? Will the sin cure sin? “Strength, O man, Strength says Swami Ji; “Arise, awake & be strong and realize your own inner strength which is immense and limitless.”