‘Ethics in Vedanta’ is a series of blogs we will be publishing from the book, ‘The Choice is Yours‘ by Swami Chinmayananda. Our choices should be based on some ethics and values. Here we understand what are the ethics mentioned in Vedanta. After reading and understanding each value we will be better equipped to make the ‘Right Choice.’

Fortitude (Dhrti) is not merely the ability to live patiently through minor physical or mental inconveniences; it is a subtle boldness that is displayed by a person while facing adversity. 

When an individual daringly confronts life, he cannot always expect happy situations, favourable circumstances, and conducive opportunities. When encountering opposition, many a weak individual feels dejected and is tempted to leave the field of work when it is only half done. Many lose their chance of achieving the goal and desert the field of action almost at the moment when victory is imminent.

In order to stick in our convictions, we need a spiritual energy to nurture and nourish our fatigued morale. This inner energy welling up in a well integrated personality is called fortitude. The strength of faith, conviction in the goal, consistency of purpose, vivid perception of the ideal, and a bold spirit of sacrifice cultivated diligently – all these form the source from which fortitude trickles down to remove our exhaustion and despair.