Courage
There are three classes of messengers—those who do not understand the orders of the master or do not care to understand, and who operate to the detriment of the work assigned them; those who do only just as much as the order literally communicates; and those who grasp the purpose and significance of the orders and carry them out unflinchingly till the purpose is achieved. Hanuman belonged to the last category. He never flinched in his efforts, whatever the obstacle, and reported back only after he was satisfied with the result of his assignment. He could delve into the commands of Rama and know what his order meant.
As soon as Hanuman received the order, he felt a thrust of power inside him and a new confidence that since he had been so ordered, the strength and intelligence, the courage and the adventurous spirit needed would be granted by Rama himself. So, he never had any qualms about his capacity or capability. His body and spirit were vitalized by the very fact that Rama asked him to do something. As electric cable has a copper wire inside its plastic coating, for good operation both must be of high quality. So, too, the body and the spirit within have both to be in good trim, and Rama’s words made them both efficient and active.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 13 (1975-77)
One must be calm and unruffled. Courage, wise counsel, and steadiness—these make the will power (icchashakti) strong and sturdy. Luster in the face, splendor in the eye, a determined look, a noble voice, large-hearted charity of feeling, unwavering goodness—these are the signposts of a developing and progressing will-force. A mind without agitations, a joyous and unblemished outlook—these are the marks of a person in whom peace has taken root.
~Prasanthi Vahini
“Have you yearned for God, for dharma? When you cry out for God and for dharma, the yearning becomes yoga sadhana(spiritual effort). You clamor for several things, but when there is a decline in ‘dharma,’ you must cultivate courage. You must develop the capacity to face adverse situations. Today you should have immense courage and unshakable determination. Avoid blind and foolish courage. One should have the capacity to discriminate and behave in accordance with the time, place, and circumstance. Here and elsewhere, you should always have courage in your heart and the determination needed to accomplish the task.” Thus did Krishna exhorted Arjuna.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 17 (1984
Remember always that it is easy to do what is pleasant, but it is difficult to be engaged in what is beneficial. Not all that is pleasant is profitable. Success comes to those who give up the path strewn with roses and brave the hammer-blows and sword thrusts of the path fraught with danger. As a matter of fact, no road is strewn with rose petals. Life is a battlefield, a Dharmakshetra, where duties and desires are always in conflict. Smother the fiery fumes of desire, of hatred, and anger that rise in your hearts; it is sheer cowardice to yield to these enemies that turn you into beasts. When obstacles come, meet them with courage.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 5 (1965)
