Success without ego, failure without fear

Swami Vivekananda’s interpretation of Chapter 2 Verse 48 of Bhagavad Gita goes like this - It is the level headed man, the calm man of good judgement and cool nerves, of great sympathy and love, who does good work and so does good to himself.

In today’s fast paced world, where competition is in excess and there is a growing urgency to reach an unseen finish line, we may have observed that success, if not handled properly can adversely affect our ego while failure invariably ushers in negativity, anger and frustration. With life throwing challenges and celebrations in excess or equal measure, it’s quite tough to stay unaffected. According to Bhagavad Gita, the key is to maintain equanimity of mind by abandoning attachment to success and failure which is infact a predominant trait of a yogi. Someone with an unperturbed sameness in adversity and triumph is probably a person who meditates in the Himalayas, one may wonder. It’s definitely not so as I have been blessed to interact with one such ‘yogi’, who happens to be my grand uncle. 

He was popularly known as Flute Shankar Rao amongst the music aficionados in Bangalore.  A self-taught musician in his formative years, his persona enthralled people across all age groups. Despite coming from a humble background with limited resources, he neither blamed fate nor almighty for the hardships he had to endure. Instead, he always sported a smile and accepted life’s challenges and blessings with utmost humility. He showcased to people around him that life’s outcomes be it good or bad is an opportunity for growth and learning. 

Moreover, being a man of cool nerves helped him navigate life’s hardships with a focused mind, which over the years enhanced his mental strength. Despite achieving accolades and fame in his later years, he remained unassuming, often saying, “I have been blessed with a special gift from God, so my duty is to share the joy of music with everyone”. Hundreds of students not only became accomplished flautists under his gentle guidance but they delightfully started walking on the life path shown by this ‘yogi’. This quote perhaps sums it up aptly -A well lived life is a GIFT to those you leave behind! 

He left for heavenly abode at the ripe old age of 98, but his life journey summed up into a memoir continues to inspire people across all age groups.