Tuesday, October 13, 2015

How can we succeed in this competitive world without being dishonest?

Lee Yu Ban's photo.

Goenkaji: "The essence of leading a virtuous life is that one does not look for excuses to act wrongly. Now, you may have found a reason to justify your wrong actions. You think that you must adopt dishonest methods to succeed in this world because everybody around you is doing so, and progressing at a very fast pace. And, if we who practise Anapana or Vipassana do not do the same, we will lag behind.

"Understand that such thinking is the result of weakness of the mind. This meditation will make your mind so strong that you will not even remotely consider doing any sinful act, or breaking your sila, or adopting any wrong ways; and you will find success at your doorstep. On the contrary, if you fear failure because you are not adopting underhand methods to succeed, then this fear will become the cause of your failure, whereas the strength of the mind will bring you success. So you must strengthen the mind and not weaken it on some pretext or the other.
"As you grow, you will understand further that those people who have acquired name, fame, position and wealth through dishonest means, and are apparently leading very successful lives, remain agitated and full of misery. When you progress on this path, then you will realize that such a person neither sleeps restfully at night nor is his mind at peace during the day. What has he gained by becoming a successful person? The wealth, position, fame and name are all futile if these cannot generate happiness and peace.
"On the other hand, a person who is not so wealthy or famous but who has a contented and compassionate heart is a real noble soul and leads a truly happy life. Thus, in order to compete in the world and attain worldly success, we should not take the wrong path. This is why you are learning to meditate at this young age, so that you do not take a wrong path at any cost. Even for the sake of the right goal, do not walk on the wrong path. Always take the right course for a righteous aim."

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