Potential within

Poet-saint Kabir wrote profound philosophy employing easily identifiable idioms and simple vocabulary. My favourite verse written by him (in Hindi) is…

‘Jo til mein hai tel, jo jagmag mein hai aag,
tera Sai hai tere andar, jaag sake tho jaag’

(like sesame seeds hold oil, like flint stones hold fire,
Your potential lies within, wake up to this fact)

Sesame seeds need to be crushed to be release the oil that lies within. Two stones when struck against each other create the spark that can kindle a fire. The capacity in both cases is inherent and suitable action creates the desired result. Kabir says that similarly every man’s potential lies within and it is important to accept that potential lies within.

However, unlike sesame seeds, humans do not need external pressure to unleash their inner potential nor do they need to be struck against (compared with) another person to kindle the spark. So often, we do things only because we are externally forced to do so by others or to measure up to be compared to another’s capacity.

We are owners of prospective possibilities to do great things. We need to awaken and look inwards. We need to see what we are and what we can be. Potential needs to be first discovered by the one who possess it. Too often, we put ourselves down, because we fail to remove our blinkers of self-doubt while looking inwards and within. To be better at performing we must first recognise those facets to our personalities that lie unexplored.

Awake to BE BETTER at true recognition...

To convert inherent potential into action!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.