Three Kinds of Power in Life

Haengnyeok, Gongnyeok, and Doryeok

Who said poverty is not a sin?

If someone is born into a poor family and inherits a life of hardship, I would not call their poverty a sin.

But what about someone who knows they are poor and, instead of making an effort to change their life, spends their days drinking, turning to drugs, and depending on the help of others as though begging their way through life?

To me, that is a sin.

Human beings are naturally self-centered and selfish.

Without spiritual awakening and inner growth, gaining power can make our desires even stronger. The desire to dominate others and the need for recognition can lead to struggles for power and, sometimes, destruction.

Just as economic poverty is nothing to be proud of, I also consider it a sin to live in ignorance without making any effort toward inner awakening or growth.

Think of children who grew up hating their fathers for spending their lives drinking, only to find themselves, years later, sitting with a bottle of soju, becoming just like the fathers they once despised.

This is how deeply karma can pass from one generation to the next.

But karma can be broken.

It takes strength to break it.

Haengnyeok, Gongnyeok, and Doryeok

There are different kinds of power in human life.

I call them Haengnyeok, Gongnyeok, and Doryeok.

Haengnyeok (행력) — The Power to Act

A person who only talks but never takes action has no Haengnyeok.

Gongnyeok (공력) — The Power Built Through Consistent Practice

A person who makes one great effort and then gives up has no Gongnyeok.

Gongnyeok is the strength accumulated through consistent effort over time.

Doryeok (도력) — The Power Beyond Personal Achievement

Even if someone has Haengnyeok and Gongnyeok, it does not necessarily mean they have Doryeok.

Personal wealth and success can be achieved through Gongnyeok. But Doryeok belongs to a different dimension.

It begins when a person sets their heart on doing something beyond personal gain, something for the world.

And even then, personal effort alone is not enough.

Heaven, Earth, and people must come together.

That is Doryeok.

The Power of Thought

And the source of all these powers is the power of thought.

Our thoughts lead us to act. Through consistent practice, our strength grows.

And when we have the strength, we can begin to break the karma that has shaped our lives.

Practice in Everyday Life

Practicing self-cultivation does not mean we have to shave our heads and enter a temple.

We can practice in the middle of our ordinary lives.

Examine yourself every day. Put your thoughts in order. Keep your promises through your actions.

Continue doing so, day after day, for one year, two years, three years, and beyond.

And since we were born human, we might as well do some good in this world and live in harmony with others.

To me, that is what it means to be a person who practices self-cultivation.