Edward’s Diary Entry 44 – Virtue 23: Endurance, Fortitude, Forbearance (Dhrti)

The black stallion is a reference of mine to the childhood book King of the Wind, about the Arabian horse Sham and the mute orphan stableboy Agba. The picture is an attempt to represent Virtue 23, called Endurance, Fortitude, Forbearance (Dhrti), derived from dhr- meaning “to bear”, so “to endure” does not exactly refer to an effort made over a long period of time, but rather to the effort of accepting anything that “happens” with an even temperament, accepting things as they are, and “not being weak or miserable even in distressing circumstances” (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.11.29-32). It is said: “The sage absorbs within himself all calamities. He is steadfast even when he is in very trying and most adverse conditions. This is a particular Sattwic vritti or “state of mind” which removes depression or exhaustion of the body and senses when they sink down. An aspirant who is endowed with this divine attribute never gets disheartened, even when he is under severe trials and difficulties and tribulations. Dhrti is a divine tonic when the body and the senses are in a state of low spirits or dejection.” In the Christian world we have Mt 10:22: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he who endureth to the end shall be saved.” This is repeated at: Mt. 24:13, and Mk 13:13. In Lk 21:19: (King James) we find: “In your patience possess ye your souls. (Modern) By your endurance you will gain your lives.” A power like Dhrti or fortitude, however, can be used for several purposes, depending on character type.

The Tamas character:

“The fortitude by which a foolish man does not abandon “sleep” (non-apprehension of reality), fear (fancied aversion to something existent or non-existent), grief (non-acceptance of something already pertaining to the past), depression (self-centred emotional reaction to supposedly “adverse” circumstances), and arrogance (self-centred attribution of excessive importance) is the lowest kind of fortitude.”

The Rajas character:

“The fortitude by which a passionate character is totally attached and holds on firmly to duty, pleasure and wealth, desirous of enjoying further future rewards of joy promised by them, is the second lowest kind of fortitude, used to increase the unconscious passions.”

The Sattwic character:

“The fortitude by which a wiser character practises yoga (concentration) to steadily control the activities of the mind, sense organs and the organs of perception is the purest kind of fortitude.

So the only enduring endurance, strong fortitude or valuable forbearance is of the Sattwic kind, as this alone allows us to continue the pursuit of reality, aligning us with the universe – not with what our stupidity sees, or our passions want, but rather with what our critical intellectual faculties of reasonable doubt will at any time allow us to see. Mind as mirror, which when flattened and polished, can reflect All.