Day: May 30, 2026

Swami ji said…

Deep within us is the desire to be known, to be recognised, to be famous, and to be applauded. And, we all know that it is no mean feat- for those few- among the teeming billions- who have managed to reach the summit after painstaking perseverance- in the field of their choice. These “famous faces” are limited and few. Since it is not really possible for each one of us to taste success at a national or global level, we try, in our own humble way, to earn some recognition in the small world around us. Thus, more often than not, even before actually performing a good deed, we announce to anyone within earshot- about the great act that we are about to do, give shape to — if not overtly- then, certainly by way of a hint.

If we are lucky enough to do something good, nice- and even if, we ourselves do not go about blowing our own trumpet- we often secretly wish that someone else would do so for us. We hope that our friends or family members will make a comment about our good deed in front of others, highlighting our goodness, kindness. Even if we do not make our silent desire evident through our actions- in our thoughts, we are always hungry for attention and praise.

This is not something inherently evil, and it is certainly not something to be ashamed of. But, it is something of which we must always remain aware and try our best to curtail.

Those on the spiritual path should be able to acknowledge this craving for approval and recognition in one’s ego; as once we are on the path to God, we cannot afford to let ourselves be guided by the call of fame. We must ensure that our intention is always to do the right thing; to do our duty and not earn name and fame; that good ‘karma’ is performed for the sake of good ‘karma’ itself, and nothing more; and that spiritual practice is a means to seek God alone, and, not a means to gain appreciation for being spiritually inclined.

This hunger for acknowledgement, even a little, is always present in us. And, we must be wary of it and how it affects our thoughts, words and actions in the smallest of ways. The best way to achieve this is to always ask ourselves– “Are we doing something- keeping in mind how the world will see us, or, are we doing it because morally it is the right thing to do?” Because, even doing the ‘right thing’ needs to be done free from the pressure of an audience. These subtle differences can make a world of a difference in how we perform our ‘karma’. And it is important that we are always vigilant and aware of that.

There is no point in earning glory and acclaim, if, they come at the expense of a clear conscience. A heart free of guilt and a mind free of tension are priceless compared to a renowned name and fame. We must ensure that the latter never comes at the cost of the former.

To act properly, to sacrifice for others, to serve others, to assist others and to give to others— none of these warrant any self-praise or congratulations from others. These are our duties, and, there is no greatness in performing one’s duties. It is but the bare minimum. And, if, after doing any of these, we find ourselves in a self-congratulatory mood – then it means that we have allowed our ‘ego’ to take over us completely, and, that we do not see ourselves as equal to God’s other children, but, rather above them.

Meditation and self-reflection are essential for conditioning the mind- to not fall prey to such misplaced notions of self-worth while doing anything worthwhile.
Did Lord Hanuman consider Himself to be greater than Lord Ram- after doing something that Lord Ram Himself could not do- by using His skill to ‘jump’ across to Lanka and back? Did He pat Himself on the back and look for some commendation from Shri Ram for bringing the Sanjeevani herbs for Lord Lakshman? No, not at all! He attributed His ability to do anything to Shri Ram’s Grace on Him.

Thus, the next time we are fortunate enough to do- ” नेक, अच्छा, पवित्र कार्य…” or succeed in an honest, helpful endeavour- we must remember to direct all our happiness- not towards our ego, but, rather towards the Lord and thank Him for making us worthy of such noble actions.