พระอาจารย์อธิบายว่าการให้กำลังใจผู้อื่นจะย้อนกลับมาเป็นกำลังใจในตัวเราเอง เพราะเกิดจากศรัทธาและระบบกุศลธรรมที่ตั้งขึ้น กำลังใจจึงเป็นสิ่งสำคัญไม่แพ้กำลังกาย และยิ่งจิตใจละเอียดมากเท่าไหร่ กำลังใจก็ยิ่งเพิ่มพูนมากขึ้นเท่านั้นThe teacher explains that encouraging others returns to us as encouragement in ourselves, because it arises from faith and the system of wholesome dhamma taking hold. Encouragement matters as much as physical strength, and the more refined the mind becomes, the more it grows.
A lay follower asked about the nature of encouragement and inner strength. The teacher opened with a teaching from his mentor: "Whoever we encourage, we receive that same encouragement back. Encouragement arising within us expands into an endless, boundless force. We become someone whose spirit rises higher and higher, never falling low again."
Physical Strength and Inner Strength Matter Equally
The teacher told of a man happily eating noodles with a friend when a phone call came saying his son had died at the hospital. Though he could easily lift 20 or 30 kilograms, in that moment his hand lost all strength to even hold his chopsticks. This shows that inner strength matters every bit as much as physical strength — the two support each other constantly. A person needs both hope and in order to share happiness and give hope to others.
Faith Is Hope
Faith is a that arises together with a wholesome mind. When a wholesome mind arises, it means we are dwelling within the system of wholesome , and a sphere of faith forms, filling us with hope. Faith is reasoned confidence that leads us toward safety and a way out — trust in the Buddha's teaching and in wholesome dhamma. This faith leads us to learn what is beneficial, aimed toward , which draws in energy that clears away the defilements weighing on us. As defilement lightens, obstacles lighten too, hardship decreases, and happiness increases — and with it, our inner strength grows.
Encouragement Grows From Faith Into Vision
When the hope born of faith leads to wisdom — clear and understanding — a vision naturally arises. With that vision comes awareness of what needs to be done, forming into a goal or project that must be driven forward by inner strength, sustained by effort and perseverance. Encouragement then flows in continuously. Someone without vision, without real understanding, simply drifts through life, with little desire for any real inner strength. It's like an athlete training for a world competition — they must climb step by step, learning, understanding, and repeating their training again and again. Inner strength isn't something that arises easily; it differs from person to person, depending on each one's vision and understanding.
The More Refined the Mind, the Greater the Strength
Someone building perfections who carries responsibility for the religion while also developing themselves carries far more inner strength than someone with no such mission. Every time we encourage others, or receive encouragement ourselves, it is truly the inner knowing ones guiding and encouraging us all along, and teaching us in turn to encourage others. As the system of wholesome dhamma settles in to encourage us, a stream of merit surges through , refining the inner dimension further, and the defilements that would otherwise wear down our strength diminish. The more refined and exquisite the mind becomes, the greater our inner strength grows. The system of wholesome dhamma continually guides us toward what is right and good, transforming us from someone who wants good fortune into someone who brings good fortune to others. Our life's goal is knowledge paired with happiness and purity — and the state of knowing must come before knowledge itself. When and arise, a sphere of awareness forms, keeping us continuously aware, drawing pure energy through together with the refined treasure, clearing away defilement — and as it clears, hardship eases and happiness, ease, and comfort naturally follow.