Hari OM
Watching the opening ceremony of the Paralympics yesterday, I was struck by one word that kept arising in the commentary... ABILITY. Not, you note, DISability.
In English, we tend to have only those two terms to define an aspect of life that is actually very complex. You will not be surprised to learn that there are over thirty offerings available in Sanskrit! Some have a fine line of difference, but all have a purpose and are specific to distinct factors in one's capability (ah, there's a third word in English!) The word I would most apply to the parathletes, perhaps, is शक्तितस्/shaktitas. Many of you will be familiar with shakti as meaning power. Tas is an adaptation of tat - meaning 'that.' When used in conjunction, it is not simply 'that power' but the potential for that power - it could read more as 'resulting from that power' or 'as a consequence of that power.'
Yes, other words in the shabdkosha would apply also, but this is perhaps the most encompassing. Every one of those athletes has used everything in their power to overcome their obvious obstacles and the wider ones of society, bureaucracy, financial, and logistical. The very same things their full-bodied contemporaries have to face...on top of their immediate personal obstacles.
The determination, will, and power they have to have within themselves to represent their nations leave most of us looking anything but powerful! If one had but a fraction of that power in one's sadhana, imagine the possibilities...
So let the games commence and may all, every single one, of those competing revel in their opportunities and take home the pride (if not a medal) of having achieved at such a high level.
More power to them!!!
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