Unexpected Strength
“अनपेक्षित सामर्थ्य"
-लेखक अज्ञात
एक 10 वर्षीय लड़के ने जूडो सीखने का निर्णय लिया, हालांकि उसने एक भयानक कार दुर्घटना में अपना बायां हाथ खो दिया था।
लड़के ने एक बुजुर्ग जूडो मास्टर के साथ प्रशिक्षण शुरू किया। वह अच्छा कर रहा था, लेकिन वह यह समझ नहीं पा रहा था कि तीन महीने की कड़ी मेहनत के बाद भी मास्टर उसे केवल एक ही दांव क्यों सिखा रहे थे।
अंततः लड़के ने पूछा, "गुरुजी, क्या मुझे और दांव नहीं सीखने चाहिए?"
गुरु ने जवाब दिया, "यह एकमात्र दाँव है जो तुम जानते हो, लेकिन यही एकमात्र दाँव है जिसकी तुम्हें कभी भी जानने की आवश्यकता होगी।"
लड़का पूरी तरह से नहीं समझ सका, लेकिन उसने अपने गुरु पर विश्वास रखा और अभ्यास जारी रखा। कुछ महीनों बाद, गुरुजी उसे उसके पहले टूर्नामेंट में ले गए। आश्चर्यजनक रूप से, लड़के ने अपनी पहली दो लड़ाइयाँ आसानी से जीत लीं। तीसरी लड़ाई थोड़ी कठिन थी, लेकिन कुछ समय बाद प्रतिद्वंद्वी अधीर हो गया और उसने हमला कर दिया। लड़के ने चतुराई से अपना एकमात्र दांव खेला और जीत हासिल की। अपनी सफलता से हैरान लड़का अब फाइनल में पहुंच गया था।
इस बार उसका प्रतिद्वंद्वी बड़ा, मजबूत और अधिक अनुभवी था। कुछ देर तक ऐसा लग रहा था कि लड़का मुकाबले में टिक नहीं पाएगा। रेफरी को चिंता हुई कि लड़का चोटिल हो सकता है, इसलिए उसने टाइम-आउट ले लिया और मैच रोकने वाला था, तभी गुरुजी ने हस्तक्षेप किया और कहा, "नहीं, उसे जारी रखने दो।" मैच फिर से शुरू हुआ। तभी प्रतिद्वंद्वी ने एक गंभीर गलती कर दी – उसने अपनी सुरक्षा खो दी। लड़के ने झट से अपना दांव खेला और उसे गिरा दिया। लड़के ने न केवल वह मुकाबला जीता बल्कि पूरा टूर्नामेंट भी जीत लिया। वह चैंपियन बन गया था।
घर लौटते समय, लड़के और गुरुजी ने प्रत्येक मुकाबले की हर चाल की समीक्षा की। अंततः लड़के ने साहस जुटाकर वह सवाल पूछ लिया जो उसके मन में था, "गुरुजी, मैंने केवल एक ही दांव से टूर्नामेंट कैसे जीत लिया?"
गुरुजी ने उत्तर दिया, "तुम दो कारणों से जीते। पहला, तुमने जूडो के सबसे कठिन दांवों में से एक को लगभग पूरी तरह से सीख लिया है। और दूसरा, इस दांव का बचाव करने का एकमात्र तरीका यह है कि तुम्हारा प्रतिद्वंद्वी तुम्हारे बाएँ हाथ को पकड़ ले।"
लड़के की सबसे बड़ी कमजोरी उसकी सबसे बड़ी ताकत बन गई थी।
चिंतन के लिए प्रश्न:
- क्या आप अपने जीवन में किसी ऐसे समय को याद कर सकते हैं जब आपने जिसे अपनी कमजोरी के रूप में देखा वह ही आपकी ताकत बन गई?
- यदि आप इस कहानी के सबक को अपने जीवन में लागू कर सकते हैं, तो आप क्या अलग तरीके से करेंगे?
- अन्य शिक्षकों ने आपके जीवन में इस नजरिए को कैसे बदला है कि जीवन में बहुत कुछ मुमकिन दिखे ?
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Can you think of a time when something you saw as a weakness turned out to be a strength? If you could apply the lesson from this story to your life, what would you do differently? How have other teachers in your life influenced what you see as possible?
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15 Past Reflections
On Mar 26, 2025 stream wrote :
A lot to ponder in this story. I was seen as overly sensitive and easily cried and had a very hard time accepting any thing I felt was injustice. So, I interpreted that as me being a "weirdo" or something wrong with me. My sensitivity , emotionality, and caring for justness are certainly what shaped me to be the human I am and love. It may have been wonderful to have had a happier childhood and found others that appreciated the qualities that I hid. I eventually was drawn to and chose teachers who demonstrated compassion and self awareness.
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On Mar 25, 2025 Deepika Patel wrote :
A simple story driving home “Practise makes perfect “ yet again.
As we know, this is the truest truth!
This translates into my life in the form of running. I started as a young Mother more so because of the flexibility in terms of time. I could only run when the baby was sleeping. Cut to 26 years ( and counting ), I’m now a seasoned marathoner without even realising how I got here.
As we know, this is the truest truth!
This translates into my life in the form of running. I started as a young Mother more so because of the flexibility in terms of time. I could only run when the baby was sleeping. Cut to 26 years ( and counting ), I’m now a seasoned marathoner without even realising how I got here.
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On Mar 25, 2025 Jagdish P. Dave wrote :
My Reflections:
This article has drawn my attention to the importance of the value of seeing objects, situations,
people, relationships and above all my own self. There is a wise saying in Sanskrit: Yatha
dristihi tatha sristihi: The world appears as we see it. People, objects, situations, relationships
and above my own self are perceived according to my inner mind state: with a clear mind state
like the clear sky or the cloudy state. We tend to project our inner world onto our world. Our
perception creates the outer world. Our mind, our inner vision is the cause of inner freedom or
inner bondage. As the Bhagavad Geeta says: Manaha eva manushyanam karanam
bandhmokshayho.
As I am advancing in age and as I am getting older, my inner world has been getting more free
from the inner bondage I myself have created. I have learned the significance of seeing and
relating to people clearly, empathetically and compassionately.
The first teachers in my life were my parents. My father t... [View Full Comment]
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On Mar 25, 2025 Paul wrote :
I love the lessons: patience, respect, practice, faith, obedience, ultimate achievement. These teaching stories are powerful
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On Mar 25, 2025 Anilkumar Pandit wrote :
Brilliant message to leverage even weakness into strength.
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On Mar 25, 2025 Charles Tutt wrote :
Beautiful, touching, inspiring, meaningful, and useful. A good theme upon which to meditate daily.
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On Mar 25, 2025 Fiona wrote :
Resonates! I struggled in a very challenging marriage for many years. I felt ill equipped for dealing with my husbands metal health challenges and addiction. But I just kept showing up with my authentic self and getting on with developing myself. It drove me to work hard on my own demons and motivated me to be true to myself. When I finally left the marriage I realized I had developed the skills I needed to recreate my life again from nothing and knew what I was in curating mt new life.
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On Mar 21, 2025 David Doane wrote :
Wonderful story! I've had the experience of something I saw as weakness become a strength. As a child, my learning that people were happier if I was quiet turned me inward, which had negative and positive aspects. The positive of turning inward was finding more of me. Eventually I grew to be louder and more outward and held onto at least some of what I gained in turning inward. If I could do it differently, I would learn at a younger age that my expressing me is an asset and I would learn to turn inward in a different way. I've had some wonderful teachers. From them I learned that I am plenty, that very much is possible, and it's for me to live and make good use of what I am. I'm still working on it.
2 replies: Fiona, David | Post Your Reply
On Mar 21, 2025 allie wrote :
“You won for two reasons,” the teacher answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.” The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength....
the importance of simplicity...
and staying simple
:)
the importance of simplicity...
and staying simple
:)
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On Mar 20, 2025 Victoria wrote :
Love the story and the reminder of how our perceived weaknesses can be our greatest strengths. Beautiful!
1 reply: Amy | Post Your Reply
On Mar 20, 2025 Barbara S. wrote :
What an inspiring story. A beautiful reading to start my day. Teachers have been my heroes. I believe many of my teachers changed the course of my life. The support and kindness of teachers set the stage for my interest in education.