There was once a martial arts student. He had tried to defeat his classmate multiple times during practice sessions & had failed. After graduation, he decided to continue training under a master to defeat his friend. He trained for a decade. He then challenged his friend & failed yet. He underwent further training with a different master. Failed again. Repeated the process. Failed yet again.
Finally, he gave up. "I have practiced so long. Still I kept failing with you. Why is that?"
His friend replied: "All I do is practice".
In life, we all perform tasks. Some well, some not so much. However, external efforts are most useful if they result in inner transformation. Every act can be an act of Tapasya.
Any task done well improves concentration (Dharana) & knowledge (Vidya).
The knowledge can take various forms: we can learn to understand things or people better, or understand ourselves better observing how we react to situations.
When we have low self-confidence, we will tend to virtue signal & not speak up even if we disagree, with our mind ruled by fear, jealousy or guilt. The goal is social acceptability & wanting to be liked.
As we get comfortable with ourselves & our confidence improves, we start expressing our opinions. But a different problem may emerge. Our reaction to disagreements will reveal the extent of our ego & attachments. We may have tendencies to bully & silence the weak, the ones who are fearful & lack courage to stand up & speak up.
As we understand ourselves more, we will express ourselves & be unafraid of debates. We will gain courage & lose fear of being wrong. Our goal is just knowledge & self-improvement, and we won't mind our ego (AhamBhavam) taking a knock.
Maybe eventually, as the Yogis say, we'll learn that we're all interconnected through divine love. That love will not stop us from gently improving ourselves or others.
Isn't life best lived if we manage to improve ourselves a little bit more in the process?
No comments:
Post a Comment