There is
nothing wrong in being reasonable, being rational and approaching Life with
logic. But there will be times in Life, when what’s happening to you will defy
logic, appear to be irrational and reason will cease to apply.
When all
reasoning fails, simply accept Life for what it is and operate from your
intuition. Each of us has an innate intuitive ability which we normally
hesitate to use. Intuition works from within. It is based on what is. But our
scientific conditioning leads us to time and again, dump the intuition, abandon
what is, and keep seeking what should be!
So your
definition of success too is based on rationality. How much have you made in
terms of assets, what position do you have in society, do you have enough cash
to live a cushy Life? It is such a logical thing. If you have been around so
many years, earning, and if you are an intelligent, capable person, then you
must be having so much built up in your savings and investments. Now what if
you have years of experience behind you, are intelligent, sincere, hardworking,
and have nothing with you? Then per the world definition of success, you are a
zero. A failure. You can heed that reasonable argument and give up on Life or
you can look within and, now, start living! That’s when your intuition will
kick in and tell you that the best kept secret about living is to live in
surrender. In acceptance of what is.
This awakening
is what happened to King Alexander too. He arrived in India, with his army and
was about to enter the country. There at the border he found a man, with
flowing beard, in his loin cloth, in deep meditation. Alexander was amused that
someone could be so blissful and so peaceful doing ‘nothing’. He spoke to the man.
Alexander asked,
“Are you not wasting your time? You look capable to me. Why do you sit like
this wasting your time and talent away?”
The man
replied: “And what else can I do and why?”
Alexander
said: “You can do so many things. You can lead a far more productive Life. Look
at me. I have conquered the whole world and have all the riches and all the
power that my money and position can buy. And now I have come to conquer your
land too!”
The man
smiled and said: “And pray what will you do when you have nothing more to
conquer?”
Alexander
quickly shot back: “I hope that happens soon. Then I will also sit under a tree
and blissfully, peacefully meditate.”
The man
looked serene, glowing, as he replied, asking a defining question: “So, do you now
see why I am doing what I am doing?”
Intuition,
the ability to relate to the real, to the Truth, to what is, is embedded in our
DNA. In the mindless material chase that we set out on, thanks to our
conditioning, a lot of success is defined by what you amass, accumulate,
display and have to ‘spend’. By the worldly view, Buddha was a beggar, who
squandered his emperorship. He could have been so successful leading men and
women, as a King. But instead he threw it all away and sat under a tree in
contemplation. But he did what he did because Buddha’s intuitive side overtook
his logical side. And his intuition took him to the truth. And the truth took
him to inner joy and happiness, to bliss.
I am not
advocating that we should abhor the worldly view. Just remember that the
worldly view of success built on rational, reasonable, logical thinking can
only ensure success of one kind. It cannot ensure happiness. And sometimes when
Life’s design works differently for you, no reason, no logic, no rational
thinking can save you. Only your intuition can. And when you think of your Life
intuitively, then and then alone, will you be in bliss. Will you be a Buddha
yourself.
That’s no small
achievement. That’s a far more lasting, profound form of success. Isn’t that
what Alexander wanted for himself too after he had finished with all his
material conquests? So, when you can’t do the regular stuff__be successful per
world standards__do the intuitive. It will get you to where you truly belong__surer
and faster!
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