Buddhism speaks of the “Five Spiritual Powers”: Faith, Energy/Effort (Viriya), Mindfulness, Concentration, and Wisdom. The sequence is not random. While these powers interact, harmonize and balance each other, each preceding power is a key condition to creating and building what follows.
In this time of confusion, chaos, and uncertainty, we can feel drained, depleted, and perhaps even defeated. It is hard to call forth the Energy and channel that into Effort to resist; it may be unclear what to do.
Perhaps we think, if we were made of the ‘right stuff’, we would ‘just do it’. But that line of thinking is a set-up. These Spiritual Powers, sometimes called Controlling Faculties, tell us that to fuel Energy & Effort, we need to look to the preceding power — to Faith. This is not a blind faith, but rather a faith, called saddhá, that arises from experience. Heather Cox Richardson, a historian, is a source of faith for me. She provides perspective, past accounts, that remind me that this is not the first time such things have happened. Hearing about acts of courage by our civil servants and others can inspire. Even the very struggles that I bear witness to — as a family member, as a therapist, as a spiritual friend, even in myself…shows me that we care, we are disturbed not just by our suffering but all suffering. It strikes me as a call from our own Buddhanature.
This call, this disturbance, tells me we haven’t, we won’t give up. Our practice, our coming together to meditate, to hear and discuss the Dharma — these are all ways of not giving up.
Sangha, from this view, is a source of Faith.
Sara Doering says:
“They’ve been called “five priceless jewels,” because when they’re well developed, the mind resists domination by the dark forces of greed and hate and delusion. When the mind is no longer bound by those energies, then understanding and love have no limits. These five powers are also called the “controlling faculties.” When they’re strong and balanced, they control the mind, and generate the power which leads to liberation.” From: The Five Spiritual Powers by Sarah Doering Insight Journal, Spring, 2003.
As we are liberated, no longer so bound by greed/hatred/delusion, we will be able to bear witness with greater clarity and acceptance, to see our common humanity, and this will inform us to make decisions, to speak and act with wisdom and compassion in the face of those dark forces, both internal and external.
We will not know, nor be guaranteed of, a particular outcome. We will, however, know that this way of being in the world regardless of its status, will be our guide and a bulwark to despair. As James Baraz said to me once on retreat at a time of struggle, “Trust in the sincerity of your intention.” Let’s not retreat from, but rather embrace, the struggle. “Problems are the doors through which we walk to peace.” (Problems Are the Doors Through Which We Walk to Peace by Stephen R. Schwartz)
by Jeff Rosenberg
