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concept

Power

The concept of power across world spiritual traditions generally refers to inner strength and the ability to shape one's life. Many traditions converge on the idea that true power comes from within and is often associated with self-discipline and wisdom. However, traditions diverge in their views on how power is cultivated and exercised, offering unique perspectives.

10,853 quotes

Across traditions

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Quotes

He is indeed a wise and excellent person who has conquered his own anger and shows forgiveness even when insulted, oppressed, and provoked by a powerful person.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingForgivenessWisdomSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 891
Avidya is a form of Prakriti that obscures the spiritual powers of the individual soul, forming a veil that hides the Supreme from the individual's vision.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingDifferencesSoul
All About Hinduism, p. 150
Krishna told Arjuna that having even one occult power would prevent him from realizing God.
Krishna
HinduScriptureOnenessTruth
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 467
He has no work and no organ; no one is seen equal to him or greater. His supreme power is revealed to be of many kinds; his knowledge, strength, and action are inherent in his own nature.
न तस्य कार्यं करणं च विद्यते न तत्समश्चाभ्यधिकश्च दृश्यते । परास्य शक्तिर्विविधैव श्रूयते स्वाभाविकी ज्ञानबलक्रिया च ॥ ८॥
HinduTeachingGodPowerSanskrit
Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.8
The psychic personality within us blossoms as the saint, the sage, or the seer. When it reaches its full potential, it directs the being toward self-awareness and the divine, toward the highest truth, goodness, beauty, love, and bliss, and the divine expanses, opening us to the experience of spiritual sympathy, universality, and oneness.
Sri Aurobindo
HinduTeachingAttainmentLove
The Life Divine, p. 253
No object or power is bad by itself; bad is its misuse. All human energies and virtues stand misused when we utilise these gifts of God for making others unhappy.
Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji
UniversalTeachingActionPower
Stream of Thoughts 3
Whoever knows the eldest and the best becomes the eldest and the best. The breath (prana) is truly the eldest and the best.
यो ह वै ज्येष्ठं च श्रेष्ठं च वेद ज्येष्ठश्च ह वै श्रेष्ठश्च भवति प्राणो वाव ज्येष्ठश्च श्रेष्ठश्च
HinduTeachingKnowledgeBodySanskrit
Chandogya Upanishad 5.1.1
It placed a blade of grass before him: "Take this up." He rushed at it with all his speed, but he could not take it up. He turned back from there: "I could not find out what this spirit is."
तस्मै तृणं निदधावेतदादत्स्वेतितदुपप्रेयाय सर्वजवेन तन्न शशाकादातुं स तत एवनिववृते नैतदशकं विज्ञातुं यदेतद्यक्षमिति ॥ १०॥
HinduParableHumilityGodSanskrit
Kena Upanishad 3.10
"What power is in you?" "I could carry off all this that is on the earth."
तस्मिँस्त्वयि किं वीर्यमित्यपीदँसर्वमाददीय यदिदं पृथिव्यामिति ॥ ९॥
HinduParableEgoPowerSanskrit
Kena Upanishad 3.9
It placed a blade of grass before him: "Burn this." He rushed at it with all his speed, but he could not burn it. He turned back from there: "I could not find out what this spirit is."
तस्मै तृणं निदधावेतद्दहेति ।तदुपप्रेयाय सर्वजवेन तन्न शशाक दग्धुं स तत एवनिववृते नैतदशकं विज्ञातुं यदेतद्यक्षमिति ॥ ६॥
HinduParableHumilityGodSanskrit
Kena Upanishad 3.6
"What power is in you?" "I could burn all this that is on the earth."
तस्मिꣳस्त्वयि किं वीर्यमित्यपीदꣳ सर्वंदहेयं यदिदं पृथिव्यामिति ॥ ५॥
HinduParableEgoPowerSanskrit
Kena Upanishad 3.5
This alone is Śiva, this alone is Śiva, this alone is Śiva, this alone is Śiva — by my authority, by my authority, by my authority, by my authority.
इदमेव शिवं त्विदमेव शिवं त्विदमेव शिवं त्विदमेव शिवम् । मम शासनतो मम शासनतो मम शासनतो मम शासनतः
HinduScriptureGuruDoubtSanskrit
Guru Gita 97
A warrior's strength lies in physical power, but a Brahmin's strength lies in forgiveness.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingForgivenessBodySanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 514
A gnostic being will have not only a truth-conscious control over the physical world through the realized spirit's power but also the full power of the mental and vital planes, utilizing their greater forces to perfect physical existence.
Sri Aurobindo
HinduTeachingMindSoul
The Life Divine, p. 1031
The Being and its Consciousness Force, Spirit and Nature, are not fundamentally separate. What Nature does is actually done by the Spirit.
Sri Aurobindo
HinduTeachingMindSoul
The Life Divine, p. 384
The mind can be controlled and annihilated through self-enquiry, by questioning 'Who am I?'. This is the most effective method. It leads to the annihilation of the mind. This approach is based on Vedanta. One can realize the illusory nature of the mind through philosophical contemplation.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingMeditationMind
Mind — Its Mysteries and Control, p. 231
Thought is a vital, living force, the most vital, subtle, and irresistible force in the universe.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingMindCreation
Mind — Its Mysteries and Control, p. 76
Life is a journey of transformation from impurity to purity, hatred to love, death to immortality, imperfection to perfection, and slavery to freedom, ultimately leading to eternal bliss and infinite strength.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingLoveReformation
Bliss Divine, p. 281
My advice is to not strive for supernatural powers or rapid Kundalini awakening. Instead, cultivate devotion to God, have complete faith in Him, and embody a spirit of service to humanity. The Kundalini will awaken naturally.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingDevotionEnlightenment
Bliss Divine, p. 279
The truth is that occult power inevitably leads to pride, and pride causes one to forget God.
Ramakrishna Paramhamsa
HinduTeachingEgoOneness
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 467