Monday Motivation From Scriptures (MMFS-23): How do you look at your setbacks? Boon or a bane?

Hi,

Hit by a failure in an exam and down with a disappointment? Lost your sales because of a bad season and shattered your confidence? Bruised your leg in an accident and suffered the trauma? Have you ever thought and considered looking at such apparent handicaps and setbacks as strengths and stepping stones for your success? Take a look at this story of Hanuman and his name..

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How do you look at your setbacks? Boon or a bane?

How did Hanuman get his name – Hanuman? When Hanuman was a child, believing the sun to be a ripe fruit, he flew towards the sun in pursuit of reaching it and eating it. Indra, the king of devas, heard about the adventure of Hanuman and wanted to prevent him from reaching the sun. He threw a powerful weapon (vajraayudha) at Hanuman, which struck Hanuman on his left jaw that left a permanent mark on it. Thus Hanuman received the name - Hanuman. In Sanskrit the word ‘hanu’ means ‘jaw’ and ‘man’ or ‘mant’ means "disfigured". As his jaw was distorted and disfigured, he is called Hanuman.

However, as Hanuman’s father vayu was annoyed with Indra’s attack on the child Hanuman, he withdrew all of the air in the universe which forced several of the devas including Indra run not only to rescue and revive Hanuman back to life and but also to bless him with multiple boons that made Hanuman very powerful.

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A name to reflect and showcase a defect!! Yes, it is true. Hanuman is a name that highlights an apparent defect. But that defect is what that eventually resulted in several boons and multiple powers for Hanuman.

The Japanese know this art of making the broken things more precious called kintsugi or kintsukuroi, which means ‘to repair with gold.’ When they mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. Believing that the piece is more beautiful for having been broke, they fill the cracks with gold that not only restores functionality to a broken vessel but also adds beauty and worth. It turns brokenness into the most valuable part of the piece. YES, setbacks are not setbacks, and neither the handicaps. They are a boon, if only you believe in them so.

With love and regards,
Siva