Vicki talks
A SPIRITUAL CONSIDERATION OF SUCCESS
Vicki spoke last night at the Houghton TM centre–one of the Thursday night series for TM meditators. Here’s a 20 minute podcast she recorded for you: Vicki on Success-a Spiritual Approach.
She opened by reading an alert group a number of definitions of success and then mentioned the work of Bronnie Ware who wrote on the top 5 regrets of the dying.
Top of the list was “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. Next was: “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
Wow!
So lets get to work on avoiding the same fate.
Here is a podcast of Vicki’s talk.
PC Henderson Stanley had this to say about success: “To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of oneself; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived–this is to have succeeded.”
I particularly loved Oprahs quote “I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that is unique as a fingerprint–and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.” Oprah Winfrey.
As I have said before–Oprah gets it!
Then Vicki discussed object referral versus self referral.
The bottom line is enjoy your life and be happy.
One of the most common definitions of success is wealth. Maharishi has said that wealth in the hands of the unenlightened is dangerous. So money is not enough—what is needed is knowledge.
INHERITED WEALTH
According to Maharishi, wealth of good quality has been earned by improving the lot of others.
Bad quality wealth has been earned by illegal or sinful means, lowers consciousness, and debases spiritual principles. Inheriting such wealth can lead to sickness and other unfortunate consequences for the unsuspecting inheritors.
Therefore it would be good to devote a proportion of the inheritance to purposes that raise consciousnes as a way of purifying the wealth.
Hear two minutes of Vicki’s comments for yourself: Vicki on Inherited Wealth
DHARMA
Maharishi defines dharma as one’s natural duty. This is our main dharma: to become enlightened. We need to do our own dharma, “the dharma of another brings danger.”
The only way to safety is to strengthen the link with the force of evolution. As Maharishi puts it: “progress alone sustains life”. Following your dharma means to be progressive. By meditation and action we are following our dharma.
So the technique to fulfil this is to meditate and take it easy–meditation and action. Yogastah Kuru Karmani means established in being perform action.
So how to be successful? “Have the desire and shuffle your feet,” says Maharishi.
“If we think of defeat that is what we get. If we are undecided, then nothing will happen for us. We must just pick up something great and do it. Never think of failure at all, as we think now, that is what we get.”
“Now is the time to achieve more, but not to undertake more…” “If we begin to exert–don’t do it–stop. If you are tired–rest.”
“There is nothing to take seriously except the joy of life.”