Love and Happiness: Secret of Success: Team Spirit

By SWAMI NIKHILANANDA

What is the true measure of success, the outer accolades or the inner joy and peace?

Success can be external or internal. Externally, it is the measure of a job well done and the accompanying recognition from society. Internally, it is a feeling of achievement, satisfaction and fullness which comes on the completion of a task or the fulfilment of a desire. What is a true measure of success, the outer accolades or the inner joy and peace?

Success can also be measured by the degree of comfort we have with ourselves. This generally happens when we live and act in accordance with our intrinsic nature. If we attain what we want and still find something lacking then we know that either our desire was not desirable or the means adopted were not in accordance with nature.

Modern management theory proposes that a satisfied employee would lack motivation and so would not benefit the company. But to say that dissatisfaction alone is the motivating force is a negative approach.

When people are positively satisfied they want to share their feelings of joy and contentment with others and work for the welfare of others. Their motivational levels are higher than those of most people and the opposite happens - they want to do even more and work more efficiently. This is the state of mind of a Mahatma.

Success should include or embrace all aspects of our life. Some professionals may be greatly praised and considered leaders in their respective fields but may be utter failures on the family front. Some may be good for the family but be unable to make any contribution to society.

We must be whole individuals, just as God intended us to be. Take the case of a mango seed that grew to be first a plant and then a tree that gave the world sweet fruit. What did the seed do? It did nothing but remain true to its nature.

Why do people want success? Success is associated with fame, reaching the top; with perfection, wholeness, joy and completeness. Success is an expression of our Self which is Supreme and perfect. We have this thirst for success because we are that Supreme alone. We want to be great because we are great. Everyone wants to be perfect, to win.

If we understand all its connotations, our success will not be dependent on anyone's failure or be gained by pulling someone down. Our joy will not depend on the other's sorrow. We will be compassionate in the suffering of others and experience true joy in their happiness.

After returning from Lanka Rama was asked how he won the battle and he gave credit to all those who had helped him, including the monkey brigade. Real success lies in making others happy and giving credit to the whole team. A true leader carries the team with him.

When Hanuman returned from Lanka after locating Sita, he did not go directly to Rama to give him the news. He collected all the other monkeys and included them in the successful completion of their mission, so that each one of them felt they had been equally involved in finding Sita.

God has made each one of us special and we must believe in our own uniqueness. When we imitate, the message we are conveying to ourselves and the world is that we do not depend on our own selves. We must learn to believe in ourselves. If we imitate someone and achieve success, the success will belong to the other person.

Secondly, we must be independent and do our own work. Seemingly insignificant actions, like tidying our room, caring for our clothes or keeping a clean bathroom will set us on the path to independence.

(The writer will conduct a meditation retreat in the Himalayas from November 25-28. Contact on mobile: 31025539)

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See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Death and Dying, Body Mind and Soul)