If we have a very strong commitment, so that we can trust

Hear the luminous words of Sharon Salzberg, teacher of mindfulness and the way of the heart: “If we have a very strong commitment, so that we can trust ourselves and be beacons of trust for others no matter what the circumstance, then we're protected from suffering the consequences of many actions. We can be protected from that pain.” These words rise like a calm flame in the dark, revealing the ancient truth that strength of spirit shields us more than armor, and that the discipline of inner commitment can deliver us from the chaos of suffering.

At the core of her teaching is the idea of trust. To trust oneself is not mere confidence or pride; it is the knowledge that your heart, guided by integrity and compassion, will hold steady even in the storms of life. From such trust flows a light that others can see and follow—a beacon of trust, shining like a lighthouse upon the restless seas. When people behold such steadiness, their fear lessens, their pain softens, and their path becomes clearer. In this way, a single soul of strong commitment becomes a shelter for many.

The origin of this wisdom lies in the Buddhist tradition, in which Salzberg herself has long studied and taught. In meditation practice, one learns that suffering is not only in events, but in how the mind responds to them. If one’s commitment to compassion, truth, and mindfulness is firm, then the waves of anger, fear, and regret may crash, but they cannot overthrow the vessel of the soul. She speaks not of avoiding all hardship, but of finding a shield in the strength of commitment itself.

History gives us shining examples of this truth. Consider the life of Nelson Mandela, who endured decades of imprisonment. He could not control the cruelty of his captors, but he could control the commitment of his heart. He trusted himself to hold fast to the vision of equality, and because of that, he became a beacon for his people and for the world. Though he endured suffering in body, his soul was protected from the despair that breaks so many. In this way, Salzberg’s teaching becomes flesh in his story: commitment as protection, trust as light.

This paradox is powerful: we are protected not by escaping suffering, but by entering it with steadfastness. The person without commitment is tossed about, broken by every action and its consequence. But the one who lives by a deep vow—whether it is to truth, to peace, to God, or to love—finds that much of life’s pain cannot pierce them. For they measure all things not by fear, but by their commitment. Even when they fall, their trust gathers them again, like a shield lifting them from the ground.

The lesson is clear: do not seek a life free from difficulty, for such a life does not exist. Instead, cultivate a commitment so deep that it steadies you no matter what arises. Ask yourself: what vow do I live by? What truth is worth my devotion? When you discover this and cling to it with courage, then you will not be shattered by the storms of circumstance. Your trust in yourself will guide you, and your light will guide others.

Practically, this means taking time to clarify your commitments. Write them down. Speak them aloud. Commit to compassion, so that anger cannot consume you. Commit to honesty, so that lies cannot shame you. Commit to love, so that hatred cannot blind you. And when life presses heavily upon you, return to these vows. In doing so, you will discover that though pain may visit, it will not devour you, for you are anchored in a deeper truth.

So I say to you, O children of tomorrow: remember Sharon Salzberg’s wisdom. Be strong in your commitment. Trust yourself. Be a beacon of trust for others. In this way, you will walk through fire without being burned, through storms without being drowned. For while the world cannot promise freedom from hardship, your inner vow can shield you from despair. And this is the greatest protection of all—not the absence of pain, but the presence of peace.