The definition of ‘success’ is not explicitly defined, and so is the limit of successes. Obviously, since the beginning of ‘success’ is not defined, the end is also not defined. Many work for success, but only few succeed. There is a difference. Success needs attitude.
Once a disciple of a saint asked him a question – “Guru Ji, what is success?” The saint asked all to assemble the next day morning and they would all travel to a new ashram.
The next morning, the saint directed all his disciples to follow him to the new ashram. All of them walked for hours together in the scorching sun. When everyone was thirsty, Guru Ji halted and asked everyone to sit beside a pond. All sat, waiting for Guru Ji to advise and permit to drink water. But Guru Ji did not allow. After a little rest, the saint asked all of them to get-up and start walking again. After walking for miles together, without water, the saint halted again near a water pond. It was time for the sun-set as well. The saint asked all the disciples to take rest. But again, the saint didn’t ask them to drink water. The disciples were very thirsty, but neither the saint nor the disciples drank even a drop of water.
When all exhausted disciples were waiting outside the pond, the saint went inside the pond and started drinking water. He looked at the disciple who had asked question about – “What is success”, and called him inside, right in the middle of the pond. The water was quite deep at this point. As the disciple reached inside, the saint immediately caught him from the back of his neck and pushed his head inside the water. Everyone was stunned. All disciples shouted – “Guru Ji what are you doing, he will die.” The disciple started struggling. He started moving his hands and legs in order to come out of the water. But the strength of the saint was so much that he could not come out. The disciple started losing his breathe. His struggle started converting into surrender. But the saint maintained his pressure and kept his head inside.
Seeing that Guru Ji was not relaxing and was not mending, and his pressure to keep his head inside the water is not changing; the disciple decided to reorganize and collect his all energy and pushed the saint aside to save his life. Suddenly he came out of the water and started breathing heavily. As he came out of the water, the saint grabbed him and didn’t allow to sink again. The saint immediately hugged him and ask him to breathe normal. And assured him that everything is fine and he won’t die. He patted on his back and praised him – “Well done, you are a brave shishya” he said.
The disciple was surprised and stunned. He was looking at Guru ji as if questioning him as – why he did so to him?
Other shishya also questioned the saint and the saint smiled and replied – “To know about success and to be successful, one has to fight all odds that have the potential to fight against you. Unless you have that courage, strength, wisdom, technique, thought and intelligence; you will not get success and be successful in whatever you desire. And even if you get success without struggles, it would be momentary, short-lived and would not sustain.”
Referring to the disciple, he said, “Until he composed himself and used his entire energy, he was not able to push me (obstacle) aside. And if he had not pushed me aside, my grip on his neck would not have loosened, and he would have not come out successfully. If you want to succeed in whatever you want to achieve, put your full potential and energy into it and prepare yourself in such a way that there is no other chance – You would be successful then.”
I generally say – “I was finding success; I was getting failures. But when I started searching for failures, I started getting successful.”
People say, every night ends with the sun shine. True, no doubt about it. But to see the sun shining again, one has to peacefully, gracefully and happily pass through the journey of night. Most of us unfortunately surrender during that dark night.