In the quest to fulfill our dreams, have we forgotten our ultimate goal? With success comes insecurity. When I look at the lives of the downtrodden and the underprivileged, I sense a certain degree of content in them (not jealously). More often than not, the ‘haves more’ are filled with ‘wanting more.’ Healthy competition is good and wanting more from life is not a sin, but I feel we should make a commitment of doing more without bothering too much about the results. Interestingly, I believe in a Utopian world. Yes, a world that is equal and peaceful. For that to happen, the youth will have to take the driver’s seat. We need to develop a practical and constructive approach. It is important to show youngsters the meaningful way. Meaningful in the sense to achieve an inclusive society, thereby transforming ourselves into a new age of social development. One should take note that the society is integrated not by the speeches of the self-proclaimed gods nor by the wonderful schemes; but by behavioral changes.
In the Indian ethos, we do find that everyone is a reflection of the other and that ‘atman’ is immortal. It is with this understanding that we must realize that competition without empathy and sensitivity would lead the society nowhere. For example, I see people comparing grades of their children with others; creating an atmosphere of jealousy and negativity. This results in hyper competition and alienation of one’s soul. Therefore, it’s important to see human beings as one and develop a healthy, meaningful competition. Giving prominence to ranks would only make things worse. At this juncture, there comes a dilemma of what is more important: success or contentment. Success, in the modern world, is mostly defined in terms of materialistic well-being while keeping aside spiritual and/or aesthetic needs. It is more of a dichotomy between haves or have-nots. While contentment is seen as a state of being neutral with whatever one may have or own. Both of these are positively related to each other. One’s success often defines the contentment as per the new explanation. But I feel that materialistic success has no relationship with contentment. More success would mean more thrust to achieve, thereby contentment comes with achieving more and not being with what one has. I believe that real success lies in empathy, sensitivity and knowledge (should not become a source of hierarchy). Success is far from material well-being. It is inner happiness which defines how successful we are in the dynamic world.
As said above, it becomes essential to connect success and contentment with the ultimate goal. The goal is to do more for those who need more. The goal is to empower those who seek a chance. The ultimate form of bliss could possibly be found in doing some little things around. We should try to compete with ourselves first and then with full vigour try for the upliftment of beings in general. This success should not disseminate zealous and hatred; it should empathize with what is underdeveloped. The contentment is to be found in the most simple things. The youth today needs to self empower themselves to emancipate the lower rungs of society. There is a need to lessen the gap between the rich and the poor at least in terms of access to basic resources. “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free. Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls. Where words come out from the depth of truth, where tireless striving stretches its arms toward perfection. Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit. Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever widening thought and action. In to that heaven of freedom, my father, Let my country awake!”
― Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali
With the elections coming very soon, let us pledge to achieve brotherhood, harmony, peace, and equality to achieve the ultimate goal – inner happiness.