!!!!!! SUCCESS WITHIN YOU !!!!!!!
Prof. Ashok Sinha
Reaching milestones or arriving at significant turning points in life bring with them loads of praise and respect from different segments of people whom we are connected with. Life does not remain the same as a fresh flavor of a pride based on what we have achieved is added to life. If spiritually defined, a pride based on soul-consciousness can be defined as becoming an embodiment of the qualities, powers and skills of the soul, which are non-physical capabilities and are given a physical face by karmas, which involve words, actions and relationships. This pride is called self-esteem in spirituality. On the other hand, a pride based on the physical body consciousness, which is called ego in spirituality, can be defined as attaching yourself to the role and forgetting the non-physical aspect completely, forgetting that the qualities and the talents which are responsible for success are not mine per se (exactly), but are a gift of my past actions, which were inspired by the remembrance of the Supreme.
We might argue that the skills are mine and are the only cause behind the success story of my life, but we do forget that all benevolent (kind) actions performed by us over many previous births, which are the reason why we are gifted with specialties today (as a fruit of those actions), were directly or indirectly related to the remembrance of God and performing pure actions or punya karmas in the name of God, both of which were an absolutely common part of our lives just about 100-150 years ago. Do you know that all of us, even the most advanced personalities amongst us presently, remembered God everyday for quite some time till a few hundred years ago in different physical costumes, not only in the form of prayers but also thanking him many times each day for everything he gave us. It’s only after the advancement of science and technology that we starting remaining away from the Supreme and instead of taking success in our stride as a God-given gift, we starting taking it as only my destiny, with no role of God to play in the same. That’s when self-esteem starting changing to ego.
Success stories across the world are measured for their worth not just by what was achieved in a particular life sphere but also by how the people excelling in their field took success in their stride or how much did they dedicate the success to the Higher Power with the wisest intellect and the one responsible for bringing them the success directly or indirectly. We commonly say Thank God in our thought prayers to him. This has been done since hundreds of years, but do we ever be an embodiment of that i.e. do we really, in our interactions with others and in our sacred space of our mind be completely sweet and humble in living our success. Our success should be filled with the fragrance of God’s love and a dignified and humble feeling of servant dedicated to the Supreme. Only then, will we be called completely successful.
There was once a beautiful daughter of a farmer in a far off land, who won the hand in marriage of the richest prince of that particular time. She started ruling the kingdom with the newly crowned king with much pride and confidence. There was no one in the kingdom who did not look up to her. She controlled the treasure of the kingdom, which included not only gold and silver but also many far off lands. From a simple village girl, she had the whole kingdom at her feet with people around her giving her the respect and adulation (praise), reserved for the highest of the highest. All was good, until slowly over a period of time, she starting becoming arrogant and her relationship with the successful king and the people of the kingdom starting suffering. She forgot that this sudden change in her fortune was a gift of her noble actions that she had performed in her past births and also to maintain the rich fortune that she had earned, she had to continue her noble actions i.e. she had to remain egoless and sweet because that is the first sign of nobility. Also, she forgot that a humble leader, before ruling people had to rule their hearts, which is the sign of a true leader. When that happened, people of the kingdom starting distancing themselves away from the queen and she starting being seen in a poor light and she lost all that she had earned. So success can come crashing down in a few moments or days if not carried well and maintained by remaining noble and humble.
When told for the first time, we all think that isn’t it a little natural to be a little snobbish when coming into contact with people who are connected to us in our roles of success and also sometimes some of us, in the wave of success, think it’s fashionable to order around people, either our family associates or people who come in contact with us at the workplace or in the spiritual service of humanity or for that matter any sphere of action. But do remember, the moment we try and control people, we will stop influencing them and our ability to bring about changes in them is left ineffective. And a successful person without the ability to influence people’s opinions and bring the same in the favour of a common cause is like a ship without a rudder, which is used to steer a ship or change its direction i.e. he cannot steer or change people as per the demands of the role of success and make it even more successful. Also, many people leave their inherent goodness after having achieved something. Often, we see many people, after having become successful, snapping at others or talking rudely, taking for granted the others’ good behavior and also seeing them as inferior. Success seems to bring for them, on the surface, the negative personality characteristics which were not a part of their natures before becoming successful. So, for them, success is temporary because a sweet natured individual, after having tasted success, can truly be called successful.
Also, success for some, takes them away from the Supreme, while for some a relationship with the Supreme is strengthened because he has blessed them directly or indirectly with the gift of success – that belief is strong. There are many examples of successful people who became better people after becoming successful. How do we remain egoless after success? Love for God is the deepest and purest love in which surrendering the ego becomes very easy. It is said”– the return of the love and success that God showers on us is to turn or transform ourselves:. So keeping praising the Sweet Lord in success and remain seated on the throne of pure pride or self-esteem and he will adorn your life with the jewels of more and more success, admiration, praise, respect, love and good wishes from each one.