This chapter is the English translation of Gujarati Book Title - Sadhak and Sathi Author - Shri Atmanandji (Dr. Soneji) CHAPTER 27 TRUE SUCCESS IN LIFE (JIVANANI SACHI SAFALATA) In this world, there are persons of varied temperaments carrying on different types of activities. Human beings continue their life activities motivated by four fold inspirations, namely religion (Dharma), to earn for living (Artha), to have a family (Kama), and liberation (Mokhsha). Keeping with various factors like his capacity, circumstances, and degree of acquired discipline, available guidance, intuition, intellectual status and so on. ORDINARY AND MIDDLING SUCCESS The ordinary person of the world leads his life, subjecting himself to birth, growth, continuation of the family, old age, and death. This is the same way an animal lives and ends its life. By following these stereotyped processes in life, one misses the golden opportunity to attain the eternal bliss and freedom, which is attainable only through human birth. Some noble persons improve upon this norm in that they do not think only of themselves, but they also care about how they can be useful and helpful in advancing the happiness and prosperity of other people. Being inspired by such a sublime motive, they make sincere efforts for progressive development with a view to really and successfully accomplishing the goal of human life. Thus they lead a simple, contented, meritorious, well-regulated and just life. They actively participate in noble tasks, charitable plans, and other similar humanitarian projects for the welfare of the other human beings and animals. Today, such noble persons are rarely seen. This is indeed unfortunate. If such persons intend to make their lives really successful, they should cultivate a sense of subtle discrimination. For the cultivation of this sense of discrimination, the chief means is a well-planned association and affiliation with the noble, the wise and the spiritually enlightened ones. THE HIGHEST SUCCESS: A person who desires the bliss of self-realization is a really great person. He desires nothing else. If he does desire anything it is true happiness for all the other living beings of the universe. Such bliss of the self can be acquired only through self-knowledge. The basic means of acquiring this self-knowledge is to be noble and virtuous and to listen attentively to the preachings of the enlightened saints. One should then make constant efforts to mold all the processes of his routine life in such a way that a personality dawns in himself which is divine, impressive, pleasant, and self-sufficient. To accomplish success in this task is the greatest heroic deed indeed in this world. This is because one who accomplishes this heroic task attains the Supreme Status. He becomes a liberated soul, experiences infinite and Supreme bliss, and destroys all the bonds of birth and death. PRACTICE IN LIFE FOR THE HIGHEST SUCCESS Even though it is difficult to practice the path of such supreme success in our life when viewed from another angle, it is simple, straightforward and self-dependent in attainment. Great people have propounded that all individuals have the potential capacity to practice it and to accomplish it. The means to accomplish the goal are knowledge, character and devotion. For developing pure character one should make an effort to practice the different noble virtues described earlier. One should also remain vigilant and be alert to see that one's righteous life does not get destroyed. Development of right knowledge is essential for the acquisition of self-knowledge. Any activity that leads to pride, idleness, ill-health and attachment need to be set aside by Sadhaka with a strong willpower to acquire self-knowledge. In the first stage of such advancement of knowledge, one should resort to frequent association with noble people. Next, one should take the vow of individual self-study for a fixed-time, say from half an hour to three hours daily with a view to spiritual uplift. Let one read and ponder over, write and/or memorize the poetical or prose writings of the great Acharyas, depicting the moral laws, the lives of great people, and the basic tenets of true religion. This will lead to peace, enhanced power of understanding, moral excellence, and a state of doubtlessness, leading to an all-round progress by leaps and bounds in the spiritual life of an aspirant. Along with this, one should also take the vow to worship God daily at a fixed time. When appropriately practiced this will lead to intense love for the supreme virtues of God and of the noble preceptor. This will lead to the dawning of good virtues of noble people, which is of fundamental importance in spiritual life. The Sadhaka has got to become adventurous in his spiritual activity (Sadhana) at this stage. Let his food and clothing be very simple. Let him develop a spirit of equanimity towards his relatives and friends even if they make fun of him. Let him keep his vow intact under all ordeals. Let him enthusiastically undertake noble acts of pilgrimage and charity; let him develop a taste for association with the wise and the noble. And let him practice the spirit of tolerance. He should spend his wealth in good causes keep his mind engrossed in study, thinking, and pondering. He should discard all interest in movies and dramas, political controversies, food and drinking, and so on. This will slowly and steadily lead to self-awakening and the rise of a great spiritual personality. Such a Sadhaka fears none, refuses to be unduly influenced by anybody; he remains unshaken in the midst of all worldly attractions and becomes neither upset nor restless during times of physical ailments. He is the uncrowned emperor of the world and he is constantly engrossed in knowledge and delight. His kingdom of the self is entirely his whether or not he is known to the world. Let us bow ourselves with highest reverences at the lotus feet of such a highly enlightened Sadhaka. LIVING EXAMPLES OF REAL SUCCESS IN LIFE (1) One great man, Shri Raichandbhai, was born in Vavania in Morbi State of Saurashtra, about one hundred years ago. Right from childhood, he endowed with knowledge of previous births, a poetic faculty, and vast memory. Yet he accepted self-knowledge as the most important aim in life and acted upon to it. Later on he was popularly known as Shrimad Rajchandra. He was a jeweller in Bombay. He was a follower of truth and morals in business and passed most of his time in the study of religious scriptures, meditation on the self, and occasionally visited judicious personalities. Gandhiji admired him and stated that, his appearance was calm and there was detachment in all his activities. He never had attraction and attachment towards worldly prosperity. External showiness cannot make one ascetic. Detachment is the grace of the soul. The state of detachment was most natural to this philosopher. One, who desires to free oneself from self-torture; one who is keen on knowing one's duty, will get lots of hints from Raichandbhai's writings. I have adopted lot of things from his life. Indeed my major source of spiritual knowledge has been his life. Let us learn at least four things from his life: 1. Engrossment in eternal objects like Soul. 2. Simplicity in life and the same attitude to all in the world. 3. A life full of truth. 4. Nonviolence. Shri Rajachandra adopted four principles (Purusharthas) of life; Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha appropriately. He accepted attainment of self-knowledge as the fundamental goal of life. He showed forth many virtues in life and he composed great spiritual literature. He has thus set a fine example for us. Let him inspire us, let us follow his path of Sadhana. (2) George Washington who was first president of U.S.A., dedicated his life to his nation, first as a commander chief of army and then as a president. When he retired at his own wish, he lived a simple and peaceful life and worshipped God. Though as a part of his duty of a chief commander, he actively participated in different wars, he had no ill feeling in his heart for any human being. He was generous, humble, honest, a great lover of his nation and strong believer of God. He set an ideal example of Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram (trio of truth-tranquility-beauty) for his fellow countrymen. (3) Mahatma Gandhiji was asked once during a meeting "What is the secret of your success and spirit in life?" He answered, "I lived my life so far on two fundamental principles namely truth and nonviolence. These helped me to achieve the following: pure heart and mind, calm nature, regular worshipping of God, asceticism, no drinking or smoking habits, pure vegetarianism, and love for all fellow human beings." If we try to follow this kind of life, it will make life peaceful and successful.