Om asamanabalaya namaha, Salutations to the Sun who is of unsurpassed, unrivalled strength, who gives the path to inner strength.
glossary
bal Hin. m. bala San. n. physical strength, power; vigour.
bala—strength Bg 17.8-10,
bala—bodily strength SB 7.4.13,
bala—the strength Adi 4.157, Antya 15.21
bala—speak Madhya 1.276, Madhya 18.204
bala—say Madhya 7.97, Madhya 9.361
bala—force Bg 17.5-6
bala—by bodily strength SB 5.17.12
bala—and strength SB 6.13.16
bala—and sufficient bodily strength SB 7.3.23
bala—and bodily strength SB 7.8.50
bala—the physical strength SB 8.2.30
bala—by the strength SB 9.10.17
samāna—equal SB 3.15.27, Madhya 6.85-86, Madhya 15.235
samāna—like Adi 9.52, Antya 4.185
samāna—all equal SB 4.20.13
samāna—straight SB 4.31.3
samāna—or of staying in the middle SB 5.21.3
samāna—equally adjusted SB 8.8.41-46
samāna—not equaled by anyone. Adi 7.111
samāna—the equal Adi 16.103
samāna—equal. Madhya 2.33
samāna—on an equal level Madhya 9.31
samāna—equal to Antya 15.41
Strength comes in many forms; some speak of physical strength, others of mental strength, the planets have six types of strength: those of position, direction, temporal nature, motion, natural and aspect forms. There are also other forms of strength, such as residential strength and shadbala, the overall strength of the planet in the chart.
The Sun is said to be so strong in heat and effulgence that it can damage the house or sign it is in. So the strength of the Sun – or the ego, which it signifies, can be of a damaging strength.
What is needed is even-ness, the sama or samāna strength (or bala) given in the glossary above. The noble Eight-fold path of Buddhism takes this root sam- and applies it to the path through life; one practices right vision (samyak drishti), right will or resolve (samyak sankalpa), right speech (samyak vak), right effort (samyak prayatna), right livelihood (samyak ajiva), right action (samyak karmanta), right mindfulness (samyak smriti) and right concentration (samyak samadhi). The path of evenness with inner strength is followed across all the domains of human awareness producing skilful action, skilful behaviour. This is the proper use of, and the evenness of strength.
What are the qualities of those great strength?
They will not have the craving for wealth; nor the ambition to develop their doo-dads and knick-knacks; they will neither love those who praise them nor hate those who blame them; they will not prevent their disciplines from approaching them; they will not prohibit any one from approaching them; they will look upon all with equal love; they will not relish the defamation of others; they will not be vengeful against those who point out to them their own mistakes and wrongs; they will always spread Truth, Righteousness, Peace, and selfless Love; they will ever yearn for the joy, welfare and progress of the followers. Seek such persons. They are the true Gurus. Do not even cast a glance at those who are afflicted with anger, anxiety, hatred, envy etc., or those worrying about name and fame and honour and status, however pompous their personality, however resounding their reputation.
One of the forms of strength is atma-balan, the strength of the soul itself. When the guru shows the path to the goal, and the path is followed, the soul gathers great strength, strength that cannot be overpowered by any other form of strength. The soul is then resplendent with the light of a thousand Suns. The Sun, shining with unrivalled and matchless splendour gives the path to follow.
Download 108 Names of Surya, the Sun
