Striving towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

A rich man searching for happiness, travelled to different countries. He was still not happy. He chased wine, women and other addictions... but his heart was devoid of happiness.

Someone told him that there was happiness in a life of renunciation. So, he decided to try that too. He packed all his wealth, the treasure stored in his house, all diamonds, precious stones and gold.

He took the bundle and placed it at the feet of a sage and said, ‘“ Guru! I am placing all my wealth at your feet! I don’t need them any more. I only seek peace of mind and happiness! Where is peace?” Saying thus, he fell at the feet of the Sage in total surrender.

The sage did not seem to heed his words at all. He hurriedly opened the bundle and checked the contents. It was full of dazzling diamonds, glittering gold. On viewing these, the Sage tied up the bundle and ran with it.

The rich man was extremely shocked. “Oh, no! I have surrendered my wealth to a cheat, a pseudo Godman! What a blunder!” he thought. His sadness turned into anger and he went behind the Sage in hot pursuit.

The Yogi was unable to run fast. He went into the forest, but finally reached the place from where he had started his run... under the tree. The rich man also reached the same place, panting hard. Before he could utter a word, the Sage said, “Hey, did you get scared that I would abscond with your wealth? Here, take it! I have no need for it... keep it for yourself!” and returned the bundle to him.

The rich man was very happy that he got back his ‘lost’ wealth. “Here is peace and happiness,” said the Sage. The Sage further added, “You see, all this wealth was with you even before you came here.

But you did not derive joy from them. It is the same wealth that is with you now... but you have found a great joy in your heart! So where did the happiness come from… from wealth or from within you?”

It is clear from the story that joy and happiness are not outside us. They are within us! If you unlock the doors to them, they will be all yours!