Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. Difficult times could create feelings of anxiety, insecurity, and fear. As we navigate through undesirable situations and uncertainties, we find that negativities surrounding the problems consume our mind. It is in those times that we have to exert ourselves to change our perspective and adopt a more positive and solution-driven attitude. Wise people have always chosen to leverage adversities as opportunities for growth and progress, rather than succumb to negative thought patterns. Saint Kabir described how different people respond when challenged by problems: “Gold, virtuous people and saints are resilient; you may break them a hundred times and yet they will re -join. In contrast, negative people and clay pots are fragile; once shattered, they are broken forever.” The distinguishing feature of the successful is that they have a mind-set that enables them to remain positive in the face of adversity and even utilise the negative situation for their benefit. The eagle can teach us a few lessons on this. When the storm starts blowing, it does not cower down before it. It flies to a higher point and waits for the wind to blow over. When the storm sets in, the eagle spreads its wings and uses the draft of the wind to rise higher and higher in the sky. It does not run away from the storm, rather it uses the storm to its advantage. While the storm rages below, the eagle soars above it. The winning attitude to overcome despair and stress is to realise that adversities have opportunities inherent in them, and opportunities do not come without problems. Hence, difficulties and obstacles have a positive side to them as they make us grow from within. A gem gets polished with friction. The finest steel is produced by putting it in fire. Similarly, the more hardships we face, the stronger we become.
Saint Kabir believed that saintly people:
can regain their strength easily
Understanding Saint Kabir's Perspective on Saintly People
The question asks what Saint Kabir believed about saintly people based on the provided passage. To answer this, we need to carefully read the section of the passage that quotes Saint Kabir.
The passage quotes Saint Kabir as saying:
“Gold, virtuous people and saints are resilient; you may break them a hundred times and yet they will re -join. In contrast, negative people and clay pots are fragile; once shattered, they are broken forever.”
Let's break down this statement regarding saintly people:
- Saint Kabir groups "virtuous people and saints" with "Gold".
- He describes them as "resilient". Resilience means the ability to recover quickly from difficulties.
- He says you "may break them a hundred times and yet they will re-join." The phrase "re-join" after being broken multiple times signifies an ability to restore their integrity, spirit, or strength. It implies they can recover and come back together, or regain their form/strength, despite facing immense hardship or being metaphorically "broken".
Analyzing the Options Based on Saint Kabir's Quote
Now let's evaluate each option in light of Saint Kabir's words:
-
can regain their strength easily
This aligns well with the description of being "resilient" and being able to "re-join" even after being broken "a hundred times". It suggests an inherent ability to recover and restore themselves, which implies regaining strength or integrity despite suffering.
-
can be overcome by fear easily
The passage describes saintly people as resilient, able to withstand being "broken a hundred times". This resilience suggests they are not easily overcome, whether by fear or other difficulties. This option contradicts the passage.
-
are not willing to suffer a hundred times
The quote states that you *may* break them a hundred times, and they *will* re-join. This focuses on their ability to withstand suffering and recover, not on their willingness or unwillingness to suffer. The statement highlights their endurance and resilience.
-
can be broken easily
Saint Kabir explicitly contrasts saintly people (and gold) with fragile things like "clay pots" that are "broken forever" once shattered. By describing saints as "resilient" and able to re-join after being broken "a hundred times", he implies they are *not* easily broken. This option contradicts the passage.
Conclusion
Based on Saint Kabir's comparison of saintly people to resilient gold that can "re-join" even after being broken numerous times, the most fitting interpretation is that they can regain their strength or integrity easily after facing difficulties. This quality is the essence of resilience.
| Characteristic | Saintly People (as per Kabir) | Clay Pots (as per Kabir) |
|---|---|---|
| Resilience | Resilient | Fragile |
| Response to Breaking | Can re-join (even after 100 times) | Broken forever (once shattered) |
| Ability to Recover Strength/Integrity | High (can re-join) | None (broken forever) |
Therefore, Saint Kabir believed that saintly people can regain their strength easily.
Revision Table: Understanding Resilience and Adversity
| Concept | Explanation from Passage | Relevance to Question |
|---|---|---|
| Difficult Times | Create anxiety, insecurity, fear. Negativities consume the mind. | Context for testing resilience. |
| Resilience | Ability to re-join/recover after being "broken". Compared to gold. | Key characteristic of saintly people according to Kabir. Directly relates to regaining strength. |
| Adversity as Opportunity | Wise people leverage adversities for growth; difficulties make us grow from within. | Broader theme in the passage, supports the idea that resilient people benefit from challenges. |
| Eagle Analogy | Uses the storm to rise higher; doesn't run away. | Illustrates using difficult situations to one's advantage, demonstrating a resilient mindset. |
Additional Information: The Concept of Resilience
Resilience is a key theme in the passage. It's not just about withstanding difficulties but also about the capacity to bounce back, adapt, and even grow in the face of stress and adversity. The passage uses metaphors like gold being polished, steel being forged in fire, and the eagle using the storm to gain altitude to illustrate this concept. Saint Kabir's quote specifically applies this idea of resilience to virtuous and saintly people, suggesting their inner strength and ability to recover are significant features of their character.
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