Let's be very clear: Strong men - men who are truly role models -

O Children of the Earth, gather close, for the words of Michelle Obama shine with the wisdom of the ages. She said, "Let's be very clear: Strong men - men who are truly role models - don't need to put down women to make themselves feel powerful. People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together." In these words, there is a profound truth about strength, power, and the true measure of a man’s character. It is not in how he dominates or diminishes others that his power is proven, but in how he elevates and unites them.

In the days of the ancients, the great warriors and kings were often seen as symbols of strength, and their power was measured by their conquests. The Greeks, with their heroes like Achilles and Hercules, celebrated the mighty warrior who could triumph over enemies and force others to submit to his will. Yet, even in these stories, there are underlying lessons—the true measure of a hero was not just in his victories, but in his character. Achilles, though mighty, was consumed by pride and rage, and it was only through humility and compassion that his journey could be redeemed. The ancient philosophers like Socrates and Plato taught that true strength lay not in physical might or dominance, but in virtue, in the ability to uplift others and live in harmony with the world.

Michelle Obama’s words call us to reconsider the idea of strength. A true man of power, she asserts, does not need to diminish others to make himself appear great. The strongest among us are not those who stand tall by stepping on others, but those who lift others up to stand beside them. This is the essence of leadership—a leader does not push others down to maintain his position, but helps them rise, creating an environment where all may grow and thrive. This is a lesson as old as the sacred teachings of the ancients, who understood that leadership is not about domination, but about service to others.

Consider, O Children, the example of Nelson Mandela, a leader whose strength came not from his ability to dominate, but from his capacity to forgive, unite, and uplift others. After spending 27 years in prison, he emerged not with vengeance in his heart, but with the determination to bring his divided country together. His power was not in his ability to crush his enemies, but in his ability to unite a nation and bring about peace where there had been hatred. He did not need to put others down to make himself feel strong—he lifted an entire nation with his vision of unity and reconciliation.

Similarly, in the teachings of Buddha, we see the true strength of the spirit—a strength that comes from compassion, from understanding, and from lifting others out of suffering. Buddha spoke not of power over others, but of power within—the power to overcome one’s own desires, fears, and ignorance. His strength was in the peace he brought to others, in the uplifting of their hearts and minds. Michelle Obama echoes this truth—true strength is found not in dominance, but in compassion and the ability to bring others along on the journey.

The lesson, O Children, is clear: strength and power are not measured by how much we can dominate or control others, but by how much we can empower them, how much we can help them reach their fullest potential. True leaders do not need to tear others down to make themselves feel strong; they build others up, giving them the tools, the confidence, and the belief that they, too, can be great. This is the true power—not in taking from others, but in giving to them, in creating a world where everyone can rise together.

In our own lives, we must strive to embody this virtue—to be people who lift others up, who share in their successes and help them in their struggles. Whether in our families, communities, or workplaces, we must look for ways to empower those around us. True strength lies in how we treat others, in how we lift them when they are down, and in how we help them rise to their highest potential. Let us not be content with mere dominance or control, but seek to be leaders who inspire, who serve, and who bring others into the light of their own greatness.

Therefore, O Seekers, remember the words of Michelle Obama, the wisdom of the ancients, and the example of the great leaders who have walked before us. True strength is not in how we put others down, but in how we raise them up. Let this be our guiding principle: to lead not with force, but with compassion and unity, to build a world where all can stand together in the light of each other’s strength.