Steady in Success or Failure
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the path of spiritual realization requires a devotee to transcend the dualities of the material world. By maintaining a steady mind in both favorable and unfavorable circumstances, one situates themselves in transcendental knowledge. This article explores the concept of equanimity, illustrating that true success lies not in the material result, but in the sincere execution of one's duty for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa.
Equanimity is Yoga
Śrīla Prabhupāda defines the very essence of yoga as the ability to keep the mind balanced amidst the dualities of life. He explains that one must strictly perform their prescribed duties without being emotionally attached to the resultant profit or loss, as this steadiness indicates a connection with the Supreme.
- Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga.
- You do not be attached with the profit and loss of anything, but you simply do your duty. You don't care for the success or failure. And if you are steady either in success of failure, that is called yoga
- He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady both in success and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions.
Worker in the Mode of Goodness
According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, a person situated in the mode of goodness is distinguished by their enthusiastic and resolute nature, yet they remain detached from the fruits of their labor. Such a worker does not allow the temporary waves of success or failure to disturb their determination or create false ego.
- The worker who is free from all material attachments and false ego, who is enthusiastic and resolute and who is indifferent to success or failure, is a worker in the mode of goodness.
- He (a person in Krsna consciousness) does not worry about the distress undertaken; he is always enthusiastic. He does not care for success or failure; he is equal both in distress or happiness. Such a worker is situated in the mode of goodness.
Dependence on Kṛṣṇa
The devotee understands that while they must endeavor with great sincerity and hard labor, the ultimate outcome is sanctioned by Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that we should not become jubilant in victory nor morose in defeat, but rather recognize that everything is controlled by the Supreme Will.
- You have to do your own duty. But result, depend on Krsna. This is Kṛṣṇa Consciousness. You don't be sorry if there is failure, you don't be unhappy if there is success, uh, you don't be too much, I mean to say, jubilant if there is success. Everything is done by Krsna
- We must always sincerely try to do our best with great determination. This is the transcendental position. Success or failure, this is not our business. We leave that up to Krishna
- We have to deal with all these rascals and fools, so there must be hard labor. Because we are servant of Krsna, we have to execute the order of Krsna. That is our business. Success or failure, that's not our business
Absolute Nature of Service
In the spiritual realm, the relative concepts of victory and defeat do not exist; the only reality is service to the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that for a pure devotee, who acts like a soldier in the field, the very attempt to serve Kṛṣṇa is glorious and constitutes the perfection of life, regardless of the external appearance of the result.
- On the Absolute world there is no such relativities as a success and failure. The one thing in the Absolute world is to serve Krishna. Don't care for the result. Krishna must know that we are working very seriously and that is our success of life
- In the Absolute field both success and failures are glorious. Even Lord Nityananda pretended to be a failure to convert Jagai and Madhai in the first attempt, rather he was personally injured in such attempt but that was certainly not ludicrous
- Success or failure has no meaning for a pure devotee because he is a soldier in the field
Conclusion
Ultimately, Śrīla Prabhupāda guides us to see that success or failure are merely relative terms in the material world. For a devotee, the only true success is the sincere endeavor to execute the order of Kṛṣṇa without personal motivation. By remaining steady in all circumstances and offering the results of one's work to the Supreme Lord, one transcends material entanglement and achieves the perfection of yoga.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Success or Failure. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.