72. 89. The pain of achievement.
# 89. The pain of achievement
A devotee once asked me, 'Master, why do they inscribe only birth date and death date on the tomb stones?'
I said, 'Man does not achieve any thing worth mentioning in between birth and death. That is why they write only birth and death dates.'
What for is achievement?
Is it for redeeming from tests of life?
Or is it for name and fame?
Or is it just to spend life!
- The title given by the society for the social status that one acquires by duly inflicting self-sufferings is only called 'Achievement'.
- While practising these self-imposed sufferings, whatever drops of sweat have been shed, and for the expectations that arise in the mind, if suitable conscious level response does not come forth, the negative feeling that arises only is 'distress or pain'.
While achieving one sheds his sweat that is self-imposed in order to achieve. During this period the mind has some expectations of recognition from the outer world. If this recognition does not come duly then the negative feelings that arise in the mind as a result of this is called 'distress or pain'.
- In order to overcome the pains, after overcoming the trials, if a person excavates the achievements, and if pains themselves become the prize, Lo! That only is pain of achievement. Driven by pain when man decides to achieve, after overcoming all the trails that come his way, when he looks back if pain is the only prize of achievement then that is only the pain of achievement.
As told in a discourse in a meditation programme, 'Your body is a battle-field World war is going on in it daily. Daily many crores of bacteria and cells are being killed. They are also born. Are you a battle-field where such a big war is happening? – Oh! Living man! While you make one wonder like this, how can you be afraid of the pains given by the small ground of life?
Get down into the pain-reducing achievement. It is a fruitful achievement.
Mr. Nitti, here is a phone call for you. Mr.Moorg Mukund is on line.
- Nitti: 'Hello Mukund... What is the matter?'
- Mukund: 'Sorry. I am unable to come for your birthday party today. I have some very unavoidable circumstances at work. Don't be angry with me. Nitti, please don't feel bad that I cannot come. I will come another time. Don't worry.'
- Nitti: 'Mukund, don't worry, my principle is different. If you come for the birthday party, surely I will be happy. If you don't come, I will feel very happy for it will be less trouble for me, less expense. So you see if you come, good for me. If you don't come there is no harm for me. So you don't worry about me. Bye.'
There are people like Moorg, who suffer continuously. There are people like Mr. Nitti, who look at any thing playfully, and feel happy going with the flow of events!
In this way only those in the path of achieving look at achievement.
For the people of the first category: Achievement begins with pain and ends in pain. These are simpletons.
For the people of the second category: Achievement begins with play and ends with play. These people are enjoyers.