Success, Happiness and Wealth

It's ironical that in life we rarely get what we chase. Other day I took sahasra to the basket ball court here at Mypi and I was watching the kids playing and trying to shoot the ball in the basket. I was thinking that to make a successful shoot, you should be focused on hitting the ball at the square on the board behind the net rather than focusing on the net.

Similarly I was wondering that to actually be successful at something, we have to be focused on the system that makes us successful rather than on success itself.

Looking back at some of my successful years, meaningful in terms of having a sense of purpose and a general sense of contentment and being joyful, the system that really worked for me was 

1) Praying to God (It's scientifically psuedo meditation and some mode of calm or peace that takes over the noise - even if you don't believe in a supernatural or a magical being)

2) Strict schedule of activities/ Discipline

3) Enjoying my activities and because of that easy to be disciplined

The end result never bothered me. I was enjoying the process and was not focused on the result. And because the system was good, the end result turned out to be good. I would not have been disappointed either ways.

Enjoying what we do is only possible if our work is aligned with our spiritual purpose. Spiritual purpose is the work that makes us joyful (intentionally avoiding the word happy) doing it. 

I think happiness is a highly misunderstood and misused word. In the popular usage or implication, happiness is a fleeting/temporary experience. Why would one choose a temporary experience when we can aim for a more permanent one.

asato ma sadgamaya
tamaso ma jyotirgamaya
mrtyorma amrtam gamaya
om shanti shanti shanti.

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Lead me from the asat to the sat.
Lead me from darkness to light.
Lead me from death to immortality
Om Peace Peace Peace.

This is true prayer—the seeker’s admission of his sense of limitedness and his heartfelt cry for assistance in transcendence. It is not a prayer for the things of the world. It is not a pray for food, shelter, health, partnership, riches, success, fame, glory or even for heaven. One who recites these three mantras has realized that such things are full of holes, soaked in pain and, even in abundance, will forever leave him wanting. It is in this full understanding that one turns to this prayer. The essence of each of these three mantras is the same.

Taken from below link: https://www.amritapuri.org/3731/asatoma.aumIs 

Is wealth the maximization of riches, property and money? How much money is enough money? In olden days in India, intelligent people sought pursuit of science. And most scientists were into mediation and yoga. And infact it was understood that excess of food and drink made the society rotten! Now we look up to riches/ money as the only goal and a true mark of success. And therefore it appears logical to go after the work that pays the most. This inturn leads to lesser talent in area of research and a dearth of inventions and also a purchase/consumerism oriented society. Lack of joy in our daily activities leads us to find joy in other activities and easiest is in shopping.

I think the real wealthy person is one who finds joy in his activities and doesn't pursue psuedo happiness through fleeting experiences.

I think real wealthy person is one who is working for something besides money.

I think real wealthy person is one who is enjoying the process and not looking for a destination.

May wealth be bestowed upon all of us!