Material cravings remain brief; spiritual progress gives better life

What are our hopes for near and dear ones when they depart? That they would have gotten a better birth. This actually defines the philosophy of life. Let us critically examine what we consider success in life.

Let me begin with wealth. Practically, everyone wishes to have lots of it in order to obtain everything desirable, because money is the means for acquiring material objects, including ways for comfortable living. The underlying idea is to avoid suffering at any cost and enjoy life.

Sufferings are determined by fate and they are inevitable. Steve Jobs, cofounder of Apple, died at the age of 56 due to a terminal disease. Wealth didn’t help him beat the ailment.

Another human craving is for power, because it allows control over others, situations, etc. Do we succeed? Yes and no. Yes, for a limited duration, because power is also a material acquisition. It is a result of pious activities. Once they run out, power is gone. Hitler wanted to control the entire Europe, and maybe the whole world, with the help from his allies. He ruled Germany and some parts of Europe for a brief period and then he was stripped of his power. This shocked him to such an extent that he died by suicide; yes, suicide.

Fame is another human trap. We all crave for attention. There is nothing wrong with such a desire, but when fame becomes the yardstick for success, we go horribly wrong. Michael Jackson desired big success, which would ensure tremendous fame. He did succeed for some time till his insatiable appetite for fame took his life. He had sacrificed his sleep to be able to work more and more. And he had to be administered drugs to help him sleep. Doses kept on increasing till he never woke up.

The fourth yardstick of success is beauty. Models, film stars, etc., are paid huge sums, because beauty sells. Marilyn Monroe found out the dark side of it in a very depressive way, and she too died by suicide.

Fifthly, being independent, i.e. above rules, is another measure of success. What happens to some toppers in All India competitions when they flout all rules for their personal benefits? They are caught and put in jail. Their idea to prolong their sukha ends in lots of duhkha.

All popular notions of success are flawed, and they don’t make us big or independent. They don’t even prevent suffering or make our sukha permanent. What then should be the yardstick for success? It should be progress in life. Yes, progress is what we should look for. In younger days, it should be mainly material progress, because that will set us up nicely for our later years. Subsequently, it must be spiritual progress, however small it may be, because this will connect us with God, who is everything (The Geeta 7.19) and source of everything superior. (10.41) Then, all our inherent shortcomings won’t matter; God will supplement whatever we lack. Fortunately God is ever willing to help; we just have to approach Him in a humble mood, in order to take His shelter.

From experiences of countless fortunate souls, who took shelter in God, we learn that we begin to succeed in all aspects of our lives. Our health in all its manifestations begins to improve. Physically we benefit; mentally we become stranger; emotionally we become mature; intellectually we become wise; and spiritually we advance. Our interpersonal relationships improve; we become more useful; and we get set for a better next life.

(The author is a spiritual teacher)