What is Courage? Through the enclosed stories Mother Mirra, highlights for us the second meaning of courage (The first meaning of courage can be read here). True courage she explains, is the ability to keep one’s wits about and to be calm and unperturbed in the face of the greatest dangers. The enclosed narration which illustrates this meaning of courage has been excerpted from her book: Words of Long Ago (Volume 2 of Mother’s Works).
– Mother Mirra, Aurobindo Ashram
What is Courage? A Brave Calmness In the Face of Mortal Peril
First Story: The Rajah of Almora, in order to repel some invaders who had raided his mountain country, enrolled a number of men in a new regiment and provided each one with a good sword.
“Forward, march!” commanded the Rajah. Instantly the men unsheathed their swords with a great clang and flourished them with loud cries.
“What is this?” demanded the Rajah.
“Sire,” they replied, “we want to be ready so that the enemy does not take us by surprise.”
“You can be of no use to me, you nervous and excitable men,” he told them. “Go home, all of you.”
You will notice that the Rajah was not impressed by all this noise and waving of swords. He knew that true bravery needs no clamour and clash.
Note: The soldiers in their fear and nervousness made a great noise, so as to scare away their enemy. However they were not genuinely courageous, otherwise they would have prepared to take the enemy by stealth.
Second Story: In the following story, on the other hand, you will observe how calmly the people behaved and yet how brave they were in face of mortal peril at sea.
Towards the end of March 1910, a Scottish vessel was carrying passengers from Australia to the Cape of Good Hope. There was no trace of a cloud in the sky and the sea was calm and blue. Suddenly the ship struck a reef six miles off the west coast of Australia.
Immediately the whole crew was on the move, each man hurrying as whistles were blown. But this noise was not the result of confusion and panic. An order rang out: “Man the boats!” The passengers put on their life-belts. A blind man led by his servant walked across the deck.
Everyone made way for him. He was helpless and all wanted him to be the first to be saved. A short time later the ship had been evacuated, and soon it sank. On one of the life-boats a woman began to sing. And in spite of the sound of the waves which at times drowned her voice, the oarsmen could hear the refrain which put strength into their arms:
Pull for the shore, sailors,
Pull for the shore.
The shipwrecked people reached the shore at last and were taken in by some good fishing folk. Not one passenger had been lost. In this way four hundred and fifty people had saved themselves by their quiet courage.
So the next time we are in a difficult life situation, we must be brave and recall the true meaning of courage as outlined by Mother Mirra, which is, the ability to keep one’s wits about and to be calm and unperturbed in the face of the greatest dangers.
“Fear is slavery, work is liberty, courage is victory. Whosoever is courageous can give courage to others, just as the flame of one candle can light another.”
– Mother Mirra
PART 6: Only the Courageous Can Give Courage to Others – Mother Mirra explains how by being courageous ourselves, we can give courage to others, just as the flame of one candle lights another.
PART 4: What is Courage? Persevering Forward In Spite of Difficulties – Mother Mirra highlights that true courage is the ability to walk the straight path, to brave the storm, darkness and suffering and to persevere forward, in spite of everything, towards the light.
