How to Attain True Success?
What is the path to success in life? What does
success mean? What we consider success, and the
measurement criteria for success… are they the
only basis of success, or can failure be even more
meaningful than success in life? There could be
a deeper meaning of success and failure beyond
worldly norms; in the true sense, sometimes a
success is inferior to a failure, and sometimes the
worst failures can be grander than any success.
The basis for success and failure are rooted in
high ideals and noble goals.
The one, who lives
with high ideals all his life and fails numerous
times, will still be considered successful, but
the one who compromised his ideals to become
successful, will still be deemed unsuccessful.
The biggest success in life lies in identifying your
strengths, and accordingly performing superior
actions. The true measure of success depends on
whether you were able to carry out your tasks
attentively and perfectly, with full zeal or not.
If we succeeded in performing a certain task by
hook or by crook, then that success will always
continue to haunt and sting us, because we were
not worthy of achieving that success. Contrary
to this, if we do not achieve successful results,
even though we tried our very best, we will have
a feeling of deep satisfaction in performing that
task. Success rests in performing our actions
with full enthusiasm.
There have been many great freedom fighters that
were not able to achieve success, but this does
not appraise their life. The freedom fighter Man
Singh was not able to succeed; he was given the
death penalty. Even Chandra Shekhar Azad, an
Indian revolutionary, was unsuccessful and had to
sacrifice his life for India’s struggle for freedom.
Maharani Lakshmi Bai and Tatya Tope were not
able to succeed. Subhash Chandra Bose was not
able to succeed in witnessing India get freedom
during his lifetime.
These great souls were not able to achieve desired
success in their lifetime, but despite their failures
they are considered successful people because
they had the highest ideals and goals in life. They
are all worthy of our reverence and salutations,
because they established and carried out the
highest ideals in their lives; they became the role
models for numerous revolutionaries who were
willing to walk on their path, which was full of
struggle for India’s freedom.
In contrast, there are many examples where
success may have been achieved, but this
success is not considered desirable. If someone
obtains wealth by corruption, bribery, gambling
or robbing then his success is not considered
desirable. These people stray away from the
ultimate goals of life even after achieving
material success. They are unable to understand
life’s purpose, and mold their lives accordingly
through the art of living. Therefore, the person
who succeeds in achieving his life’s purpose and
lives honorably is considered successful.
Life and nature throws many obstacles and
challenges in our way. Every day we have to
face new challenges; and new problems arise outof various situations. Should we get scared and
run away from these challenges and problems,
or should we struggle with them, and face them
like a skilled warrior? The decision we make will
prove whether we are considered successful or
unsuccessful in life. We are successful when we
face these challenges of life, and unsuccessful
when we try to escape from these challenges out
of fear, or look for ways to avoid them.
The significance of life is not in escaping. If we
avoid or run away, then we will never be able
to succeed in life; if we face these challenges
with full force then new capabilities germinate
in us. A new insight emerges within us, a new
excitement and enthusiasm arises, which assists
us in dealing with the difficult challenges we face.
When a student starts reading, he is taught the
alphabets. Then he learns grammar, eventually
becomes a linguist, and then becomes a laureate.
As he moves from one grade to another his
questions become more complicated, but along
with this his ability to answer also increases.
In addition, his personality and his intellectual
aptitude keep growing.
The capacity of the body is limited. The body
gets tired easily and gets exhausted by the end
of the day. The capacity of the mind is far greater
than that of the body. Even when the body gets
fatigued, the mind still keeps on struggling. There
is even greater power than that of the mind – it is
the power of soul. This power comes from God.
This is the true source of success in life. A yogi is
aware of this fact and so he attaches his physical
strength with that of his mind, and then combines
the mind’s capabilities with that of the soul, and
thus connects with the capabilities of the God. In
this manner one can accumulate spiritual powers
and prosperity in one’s life.
Life is an ocean of energy. Countless, endless
waves of energy go on crashing on the shores
of time. The human being is also a tiny wave in
this vast ocean full of countless waves, yet it has
infinite, boundless potential hidden/embedded in
it. The natural aspiration of a wave is to become
an ocean and the natural desire of the seed is to
become a tree.
The wave is not successful until
it dissolves and spreads itself in the vastness
of the ocean. Until the seed turns into a tree
laden with blossomed flowers, it does not attain
contentment. The genuine accomplishment in
life hinges on achieving perfection by living
a purposeful and righteous life. That is a true
measure of success in life.
“He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed oen, and loved much;
Sisters and Brothers,
The practices of religion, the behavior of the socalled
theists, and the character and preaching
of the self-styled spiritual masters in the
present times are often found so controversial
and even sub-standard that one would hardly
have any respect or even quest for these topics.
Ostentation, blind faith and insane customs in the
name of religion appear predominant in the Indian
society and prevalent cultural system today. At
many places, narrow interpretations of religion,
coupled with egotism and vested interests have
adulterated religion with communalism.
The term
“Spirituality” is beyond the understanding of most
people. Even those who might talk about it, as part
of philosophical interest or scholarly ‘fashion’,
are not clear about its distinction from occultism
or spiritualism (occult knowledge of spirits or
ghosts); some are trapped in hallucination and/or
superstitions in the name of spirituality; faiths of
the innocents are being emotionally exploited by
the self-styled gurus or spiritual masters.
For many self-advocating ‘theists’, the deities
(idols of gods) in temples seem to have become
a wish-fulfilling source that showers everything
they pray for in return of the flowers, sweets,
incense sticks, etc, that they offer as part of
worship-rituals. They have made mockery of
devotion. Their ‘trade’ of devotion belittles their
deities as well. The devotion, the faith, the religion
of such people maligns the grace of divinity. Look
at the gorgeous show of egotism and madness of
ignorance by many of the ‘powerful’ religious
leaders in the crowded congregations of the grand
religious fetes like “Kumbh Mela” these days?
What kind of theism, what kind of spirituality,
what kind of religion is this? Which thoughtful
mind, which sensible heart would have any
reverence for all this? Indeed, it is much better to
be an atheist, better to altogether reject the idea of
spirituality than to follow the path of ignorance,
fraud, pretentions, delusions, superstitions, and
hypocrisy in the name of theism, spirituality, and
religion.
Avoid Misconceptions. Search for Truth:
A misconception that most people have about
spirituality is that it is mainly a source of mystic
attainments. They believe that spiritually evolved
people have supernatural potentials, their
blessings work wonders, and what not. Many
people search for spiritual masters only out of
curiosity to see some magical activities or to get
blessed by them. Many of you also might also
have such wrong notions. Even about me many
of you have such impressions. Often people
Theism, Spirituality and Religion
Amrit Vani
(Translation of excerpts of some discourses given by Pandit Shriram Sharma,
Acharya as part of constructive programs of his mission of mass-awakening and
social upliftment)
Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain
who sets the planets in motion. - Isaac Newton
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2018 39
come to me to see whether I could demonstrate
some extrasensory or supernatural feats. Some
even ask whether I experienced something
extraterrestrial or met some angels, etc, during
my visits to several mystic places in the arduous
core of Himalayas.
Do you think spirituality is some kind of magical
tricks? In their popular shows, magicians do
so many astonishing things! Are they spiritual
masters? Then why do you get carried away
by such tricks of some self-styled fake ‘yogis’,
‘babajis’ or ‘spiritual gurus’? Simply, because
of their costumes! Or, may be, you get attracted
by their popular shows via media, or by their
‘catchy’ talks on some religious texts. Do you
think cramming up some hymns and uttering
them with superficial ‘preaching’, wearing some
saffron attire, growing a beard, etc, makes one
spiritually enlightened? Please get rid of such
delusions. The most non-disputable sign of
spiritual progress is that true spiritual elevation
awakens saintliness. Saints and sages never boast
of, or demonstrate their extraordinary powers;
they would not bless a non-deserving person.
Remember that a genuine spiritual master would
never want to create an astonishing image of self.
Many of you who have read the “Gayatri
Mahavigyan” and similar books on deeper
science and philosophy of spiritual s³dhan³s,
get fascinated by your own imaginations about
awakening of the extrasensory energy-nuclei
and supramental faculties by the AnuÌÚh³na
(s³dhan³) of the great Gayatri Mantra. You expect
me, as the writer of “Gayatri Mahavigyan” and
a dedicated s³dhak of Gayatri, to possess some
miraculous powers. Many people try to do Gayatri
AnuÌÚh³na and expect divine blessings and boons
in return. Such imaginations and expectations
only show ignorance and immaturity of the socalled
disciples, devotees or s³dhakas (spiritual
seekers).
If you expect any boons or illustration of amazing
powers from me, it would mean that you don’t
know anything about me. Please remember, I
have dedicated all my spiritual endeavors, every
moment of my life mainly for one objective – I
want to awaken true humanity in the humans of
today. I want to remind humankind of the divine
purpose of human life. I would like to see the
descent of divinity in human-self. I want that the
seekers of spirituality, the so-called theists and
devotees, first become good, duty-bound human
beings. Before expecting great attainments from
ascetic spiritual endeavors, before considering
oneself a devotee or a theist, one must know the
basics of spirituality and religion
It really hurts me see this pathetic state of the
Indian society today. Is our country now full of
only those who ignore the “Law of Karma”, who
do not give importance to the quality of character,
merits of deeds, and sincerity of endeavors? Is
this the great ideology and culture that Hinduism
boasts of? Are these the absolute spiritual
knowledge, the great divine values, high ideals
and principles of morality, because of which
this country was once glorified as superior to
the Heavens? Certainly not! Then what is that
knowledge?
What is the beacon light of spirituality? Where
is it? Is spirituality different from spiritualism?
Or, is it yet another name of parapsychology? Is
it philosophy or science? How is it different from
Religion? What is the relevance and importance
of religion? And, why do we see religious
anarchy, communalism and extremisms, and
darkness everywhere? Who is a theist? Is
The ideas of the moral order and of God belong to the ineradicable substrate
of the human soul. - C.G. Jung
40 AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2018
theism different from blind faith and mindless
sacraments and ritualistic customs? These are
some of the questions and doubts that encounter
every thoughtful mind. Indeed, every scientific
mind should have such suspicions in view of the
prevailing confusion, exploitation, ostentation
and devolution in the field of religion and
spirituality. Every wise person should raise these
queries and sincerely investigate to find authentic
answers
Many of you might also have had similar quest in
mind. So let me explain the meaning and highlight
certain vital aspects of Âstikat³ (Theism),
Âdhy³tmikat³ (Spirituality) and Dh³rmikat³
(Religiousness) in human life.
Essence of Theism, Spirituality & Religion:
I have thoroughly studied all ancient texts of
religion and spirituality, experimented with
different kinds of s³dhan³s, and found that the
essence of all is conveyed in the three component
parts (charañas) of the Gayatri Mantra.
If you look at the recipes for preparing sweets
(desserts), you will find that by and large basic
ingredients of all are only three — some kind of
grain floor, some sweetening agent, and some
kind of milk product. Similarly the basics of all
religious teachings, the principles of spirituality
are contained in the three charañas of the Gayatri
Mantra. Understanding and adopting their
teachings is what the Vedic texts have described
as the triveni (confluence of three holy rivers
— Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati), bathing in
which purifies and beatifies everyone.
These three basic traits of spirituality and
religion are — (i) belief in God, i.e., belief
in divinity, virtuous qualities, goodness; (ii)
trust in the absolute principle of Karma viz.,
untoward, painful, and adverse consequence
of vicious thoughts and actions, and positive,
supporting, blissful, consequences of good, noble
thoughts and deeds; and (iii) faith in the power
of conscience, and adoption of fearlessness,
integrity, and emotional sensitivity (unalloyed
love, compassion, generosity) and selfless
service.
Numerous religious philosophies, scriptural
texts, spiritual teachings, disciplines and
practices originate and revolve around these three
principles. Theism, Spirituality, and Religion
should be considered in the totality of all three.
What is Faith in God, What is Devotion?
Most often we see that those who have ‘faith’ in
God, follow, in one way or the other, some kind
of devotional line and tradition of devotional
practices.
Many of the so called devotees remain
engaged in varieties of ritualistic practices (“P¿j³-
P³Úha”) and what not! Many are not even sincere
in doing the rituals. Their p¿j³-p³Úha too is only
ostentation, an act of deception. Such people not
only try to create false impression before others,
but more than that they cheat their own selves.
Those who sincerely follow specific line of
devotional practices, sincerely do p¿j³-p³Úha
should also note that all these acts, even chanting
of God’s name and prayers, singing devotional
songs, etc is only like an outer sheath. As we
all know, it is the life-force that is most precious
inside a living body; without the life-force, the
body is dead (it deteriorates and decays into
rotten rubbish sans the life-force). Similarly, what
matters in devotion is the depth of inner feeling,
the firm faith and the dedication that the devotee
has for the deity’s divine virtues and disciplines.
Only the sixth sense can expose what the other five have hidden. - Matthew A. Petti
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2018 41
For example, suppose someone regularly and
thoroughly does worship of the deities (idols or
images of gods) and chants prayers, devotional
hymns, etc for several hours — may be 4 or even
7 hours a day, but in his heart, mind and conduct
he is just the contrary to what a true believer in
the law of divinity should be, he is a cheater, an
arrogant and cruel person? Will you regard him
as a devotee? Certainly not! A person can’t be
regarded as a devotee simply because he does
p¿j³-p³Úha. For example a puj³rº (priest in a
temple) does p¿j³-p³Úha every day. But it may
simply be his ‘profession’ or assigned duty. This
alone won’t make him a devotee
What is the use of the rituals of worship and
devotional practice if they do not awaken
kindness, honesty, modesty, courage, purity
of thoughts, and other obvious consequences
of faith in the divine? Please note it is not the
duration or methods of worship that count in
devotion. Rather, it is the depth and purity
of your feelings, your mental and emotional
engrossment in devotion, your inner faith and
firm belief in divine values and disciplines,
your sincerity in adopting the qualities and
teachings implied in the rituals and devotional
hymns, that matters. There may be someone
who hardly practices any ritual of worship or
any ‘prescribed’ devotional act, but he has deep
faith in divine disciplines and qualities and he
sincerely attempts to adopt ethics of humanity in
his conduct and deeds, then he will be regarded
as a devotee in God’s eyes.
As I have explained on several occasions, as the
word meaning of up³san³ implies, it is an act
of sitting near the deity. That means — being in
the proximity (through heart and mind) of divine
thoughts and ideals. So your devotion, your faith
is true only if it induces corresponding divine
qualities in you. This effect should be reflected
clearly in your thoughts, deeds and character. The
rituals of worship (p¿j³-p³Úha) and devotional
practice of chants and prayers are only like
supporting tools to help conditioning your mind.
If you do some p¿j³-p³Úha sincerely, then fine.
But these alone won’t make you a theist and a
devotee. If you do not follow any customary
practice of worship, then also it is fine. What is
more important is your inner faith, your intrinsic
urge, and your sincere endeavors of inculcating
the virtuous qualities associated with your deity
(divine ideal).
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