Swami ji’s Sandesh… “ ‘कामयाबी’ हमें झुकना क्यों भुला देती है ? ”

Swami ji said…

Man strives to be successful. He wants to win in life. And for this he works hard, makes sacrifices, and endures countless struggles. He works and prays – day in and day out – relentlessly, hoping that the Goddess of Fortune will smile upon him, and, when she eventually does, he reaches a place of comfort, recognition and achievement. Yet, somewhere along the path of success, a subtle change begins to take place within him.

When success arrives, it brings with it praise, validation, and attention. The ones who achieve success are listened to more closely and attentively. Their opinions matter and carry a lot more weight. Their presence is acknowledged, and even desired. Life seems great in such times. One feels almost invincible, god – like.

Slowly, but , surely, in such a mindset, the weeds of ego find fertile ground to grow and flourish. We must put an end to this egoistical pattern of behaviour the very minute we find the first signs of it while interacting with others.

“कामयाब होते ही हम दूसरों से इज़्ज़त से बात करना, उनका आदर सत्कार करना, उनकी बातों को महत्व देना- क्यों भूल जाते हैं? क्या हमारी कामयाबी हमारे सर चढ़ जाती है?” The same person who once bowed in gratitude for life’s small mercies, now begins to believe that everything achieved by him was solely due to his personal
brilliance and effort. The humility that came naturally in the times of struggle gradually vanishes. Earlier, one would remember God; seek His guidance, and acknowledge one’s limitations. But when success settles in, remembrance fades.
Gratitude weakens. Instead of looking up to the heavens for guidance, man begins to look down upon his brethren with superiority.

This is where the real danger lies. Success itself is not the problem. Pride born out of it is. When achievement makes us forget the hands that lifted us, the grace that protected us, and the lessons that shaped us – success begins to hollow us from within.

The spiritual seeker must understand that success is not a destination — it is a responsibility. Be it in the spiritual or material realm, the same law follows – ‘The higher one rises…the deeper one must bow’. It is imperative to internalise that every achievement is temporary, every position is borrowed, and every penny can be taken away as easily as it was given. One must beware of getting heady on his success. For those on the spiritual path – ‘success’ in this world – is often the ultimate test. It is a test of his character ; his temperament ; his will – power ; his inner strength ; a test of his belief in his spiritual principles and faith in his ‘guru’s’ teachings. The difficulty of hard times is often a great motivator to push one towards God.
But, the comforts that come with success – are often the wet sand that trap the mind, making every step toward God – all the more heavy and difficult. In such times, one needs even greater perseverance and fortitude to not sway from the path of enlightenment.

Humility, thus, is not to be mistaken for weakness. It is strength under control. It is awareness. It is the quiet understanding that whatever we are today, have today – is not because of us at all, but a result of divine will. Those who remain humble in success stay connected to ‘reality’. They become kinder and softer than before. They speak with gentleness and act with caution – lest they come across as arrogant and narcissistic. They realise that they have been blessed with God’s grace and know that every action of theirs is a reflection of their gratitude at receiving every little thing from Him.