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SISU: The Finnish Concept of Resilience

Introduction In a world filled with challenges and setbacks, the quest for resilience has become paramount. Resilience is more than just overcoming hardship; it's about flourishing in the midst of it. And when it comes to resilience, few cultures embody it as profoundly as the Finns, who have a word for this indomitable spirit: Sisu. Sisu, pronounced "see-soo," is a unique Finnish concept that encapsulates grit, determination, and courage in the face of adversity. It's an intrinsic quality deeply embedded in the Finnish psyche, influencing how they approach life's challenges. But what exactly is Sisu, and how can we incorporate this powerful mindset into our own lives? At its core, Sisu is about perseverance in the face of extreme adversity. It's the ability to summon inner strength and tenacity when confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. While resilience is a universal trait found in every culture, Sisu has distinct characteristics that set it ap
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The Gates of Shambhala

The Gates of Shambhala

Introduction

“If our cells replace themselves every 7 years, that means that you’re not the same person that you were seven years ago.” This quote is not only a piece of information, but it’s also a warning signal for many of us. We are becoming old every day and if we keep on procrastinating then we will be unable to achieve desired goals in time bound manner. Nature propels us to grow every day but our own belief system pulls us back. Suddenly we realize that now we are 60 years old and life walked past in front of us. It passes so fast that we may think that nature had played a prank on us. The importance of time can be understood through a Tibetan story explained by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles in their very famous book “Ichigo Ichie”. This story is known as “The Gates of Shambhala”

The Gates of Shambhala

A Hunter was running behind deer, but that deer was very quick, and the hunter was running since last many hours. He crossed the frozen peaks of Himalayas. Suddenly he came across a big mountain and there was a small vertical crack in front of the Hunter. He saw an old man near the crack who told him to see across the crack. Hunter obeyed the instructions of the old man and pondered through the crack which was just wide enough for one man to pass through. He got an amazing view through the mountain where hectares of fertile land were full of fruit-bearing trees. Children were playing very happily, and animals frolicked freely. That world was full of abundance, serenity, and beauty. The old man asked, “Do you like what you see?”
“Of course, I like it . . . this must be heaven!” replied the hunter. 
Three things in life that once gone... Never come back: Time, Words, and Opportunity.
The old man explained to him that this place is known as Shambhala, and he can live happily ever after. Hunter was very happy and requested him to bring his family members and close friends to this place. The old man warned him and explained that the gates of Shambhala were open for very few people for a very limited time. Hunter asked for some time and started running towards his village while retracing his path through rivers, valleys, and hills. The whole group of family and friends started the journey towards that mountain. They managed to reach the place before dusk but the gates of Shambhala were closed by that time. The man who discovered paradise continued hunting for the rest of his life and died in poverty.

Summary

Life is too fast & too precious and wasting time would mean self-denial to the entry into Shambhala. Like the gates of Shambhala, many times our life offers a one-time opportunity and the postponement of decision at that time can ruin our life. One of my mentors suggested me to say yes to the opportunity in the first place and thereafter look for a detailed plan of action because if we show low confidence then the person offering the opportunity may change his mind and offer that opportunity to someone else. Always remember that the keys of Shambhala are in our hands. Let's also keep in our mind, “Life is shorter, live it. Love is rare, grab it. Anger is bad, dump it. Fear is awful, face it. Memories are sweet, cherish it.”.
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