What Are You Working For?
What is the timeless wisdom in the Bhagwad Gita that inspired Sunita Williams to carry it to space, helped Manu Bhaker win an Olympic medal, and motivated Gandhiji and countless others on their journey to greatness?
Life feels like a roller-coaster ride with exhilarating highs, and nerve-racking lows. We chase after success, only to struggle with stress and failure. We seek love but get mired in conflict and broken relationships. We want to achieve the extraordinary but get lost in the mundane.
Is it possible to achieve success without the accompanying heartbreak? The Gita answers with a resounding yes! It doesn’t just give platitudes. It is a scientific guide to life. It cuts through confusion and lends clarity. It has been a source of wisdom for those seeking meaning and purpose for centuries. Just as the laws of physics apply universally, so do the Gita’s principles. Timeless, practical, and deeply relevant, the Gita helps us navigate the complexities of modern life with strength and confidence.
Harvard University says only 15% of success comes from facts; 85% is driven by attitude. Yet 100% of our attention is focused on facts. Most people are limited by self-centredness, which only leads to mediocrity. Thought of self is the greatest obstacle to success. Those who have achieved mind-blowing success have thought beyond self. Ustad Bismillah Khan played the shehnai for the sheer love of music. Einstein was not fixated on Nobel Prize. What are you working for?
The highest quality of action emerges when you understand your talent is a God-given gift. You offer every action in gratitude to the Lord. Then perfection flows from you. Eric Liddell, the athlete nicknamed Flying Scotsman, had a simple yet profound motto. He said, “God made me to run, and I will run for God.” With this, he established world records and won Olympic gold. Not everyone is born wealthy. Not every sports person is as talented as Sachin Tendulkar. But everyone has Spirit in equal measure. Tap into that well of inspiration, and you will rock the world.
The Gita zeroes in on the one element that ruins human interaction – attachment, love polluted by selfishness. Harbour pure love bereft of selfishness. Love is a powerful motivator that makes people go beyond the call of duty to effortless excellence. Love converts drudgery to revelry. A difficult task gets done in an environment of fun, laughter and camaraderie. Love unlocks the gates to heaven. As Christ said – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!
The Gita helps develop the intellect. It gives clarity of thought. Some of the most talented individuals have destroyed themselves due to a lack of intellectual guidance. The difference between Maradona’s descent into self-destruction and Messi’s rise to legendary fame is the intellect. Elvis Presley’s untimely demise came from a lack of intellectual governance. The intellect is the single most important determinant of success, happiness and growth. Yet no school or university teaches it. Nobody knows the pivotal role played by the intellect. The intellect controls whims and fancies of the mind and urges of the senses. It takes you from mediocrity to excellence, and from indignation to inspiration.
More info at vedantavision.org
Authored by: Jaya Row
