You are a Fortress
I’d like to share a spin on one of the Buddha’s teachings. The story comes from the Sattakanipāta, or Book of the Sevens, of the Aṅguttara Nikāya, which is part of the Sutta Piṭaka in the Pāli Canon.
It goes like this.
The Buddha told his disciples about the qualities that make a citadel (a type of raised fortress) so strong it couldn’t be overrun by enemies.
First, it has foundation posts that sink deep into the ground. This is essential to make the citadel unshakeable.
Outside, it has a big wide moat all around it to keep enemies out.
Atop its walls is a patrol path that allows the king’s guards to keep watch.
The citadel is stocked with weapons to be used in case of an attack.
A great army stands ready within the citadel walls.
At the gates is a wise guard who knows who to let in and out.
And it has thick ramparts, or castle walls, that can withstand enemy fire.
Sounds pretty impenetrable, right?
The same way that citadel has 7 qualities that make it strong, so does a person who is firmly protective of their purpose.
Your foundation? Is faith.
The moat that protects you? Is your conscience.
The patrol path? Is prudence.
The weapons your citadel is stocked with? That’s knowledge.
The great army standing by? That’s your energy.
The wise guard at the gate? Is mindfulness.
And the thick ramparts? Those represent wisdom.
Think of your purpose as a flame that burns inside you. Like a fire that would heat a city from its center.
When it’s big and bright, that’s when you’re operating at your highest level. Your job is to feed that fire, which means you have to protect it from everything that’s trying to put it out. You need to build a fortress around it.
Here’s how:
Have faith in yourself, in your skills.
Listen to your conscience.
Be prudent, and always act in service of a better future.
Accumulate as much knowledge as you can.
Take care of your body to cultivate good energy.
Meditate, and practice mindfulness.
And develop your wisdom by coming here, every day.
How strong is your citadel?
On Purpose
On Monday’s episode of my podcast, I spoke with the renowned divorce lawyer and author James Sexton to talk about what it means to love and be loved. Through 25 years of guiding couples through heartbreak and separation, James has seen both the beauty and the brutality of human connection. We talked about the paradox of marriage, and how the greatest threat to a relationship is disconnection.
Whether you’re married, single, healing, or starting over, this episode is a masterclass in emotional intelligence that offers timeless wisdom on finding the courage and vulnerability that love demands.
Listen on
If you want to feel inspired, learn practical tools, and hear powerful stories, listen to On Purpose on Amazon Music, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Today’s Wiser Choice
There’s a lot going on in that wisdom above. So today, I want to invite you to break it down and focus on just one or two of the qualities.
Try This: I want you to look at that list of 7 qualities one more time - faith, conscience, prudence, knowledge, energy, mindfulness and wisdom - and pick one or two that jump out at you. Don’t overthink it.
Now, I want you to write a list of 3 things you can do this week to improve this quality. For example, if you want to focus on your energy, you might say “Eat home-cooked meals all week,” or “Get to bed on time.” Or if you wanted to focus on knowledge, you might say “Spend 10 minutes reading every day,” or “Sign up for a class at the library.”
Reply to this email and commit to one thing you’re going to do this week to strengthen your citadel. I’m excited to hear what you’re up to!
