Success is the accomplishment of a desired goal, while failure is the
lack of achieving that goal, though both are subjective and depend on
personal perspective and values. Success is often linked to positive
outcomes, happiness, or fulfillment, whereas failure is viewed as an
obstacle or a point of learning and growth. The distinction is not always
black and white, and failure can be seen as a necessary part of the journey
toward future success, offering valuable lessons and experiences.
Swami Mukundananda shares the story of two plants: the fern and the
bamboo. The fern grows quickly and visibly. The bamboo, however, shows no
signs of growth for five years despite being watered regularly. But during
this time, it is developing a vast root system. When it finally grows, it
shoots up 100 feet in six months.
What does this teach us? That success is not always visible. Effort
may not yield immediate results, but that doesn’t mean it’s wasted. It’s
often underground—deepening our roots for future resilience. In the same
way, our failures may be fertilizing the soul, preparing us to rise in
unexpected ways.
The Bhagavad Gita encourages us to trust this unseen process.
Bhagavad Gita’s Golden Verse on Failure (2.47)
🔗 View on holy-bhagavad-gita.org »
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not
entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause
of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.
This is one of the core teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. Swami Mukundananda
often emphasizes that we should focus on our efforts, not the outcome. When
we expect results, we open the door to disappointment. But when we
surrender results to God and do our duties with dedication, we gain freedom
from stress.
The mark of spiritual intelligence is giving your best, and letting go of
the rest.
This transforms failure into experience, not identity. Even when you don’t
succeed, you’ve grown.
BG 4.22: The Mindset Beyond Success and Failure
युक्तः कर्मफलं त्यक्त्वा शान्तिमाप्नोति नैष्ठिकीम्।
अयुक्तः कामकारेण फले सक्तो निबध्यते॥
Those who are unattached to the fruits of their actions and act according
to their duty, attain the supreme peace. But those who work with a desire
for rewards are bound by their actions.
Swamiji explains that this verse helps us shift our internal operating
system. Rather than being attached to reward, we operate from a sense of
purpose and peace. True spiritual strength is revealed when a person
remains content—whether they gain or lose, win or fail.
How does this help with failure?
It helps us disidentify from our results. We stop making outcomes the
metric of our value. Instead, we evaluate our life by the quality of our
intention, dedication, and alignment with dharma.
Surrender is Strength, Not Giving Up
"Surrender isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. By letting go of control, we align
with divine purpose. As the Gita teaches, true strength lies in calm
acceptance and unwavering action."
Swamiji clarifies that surrendering to God's will is not about giving up.
It’s about giving in to divine wisdom. When things don’t go our way, it's
easy to spiral into frustration or blame. But spiritual surrender brings us
calm amid chaos.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Shree Krishna teaches Arjun to rise above the
emotional pull of failure and act with inner steadiness. Surrender helps us
accept what is, without becoming paralyzed by it.
When you let go of the need to control the outcome, you unlock the power to
transform the present.
The Rose and the Thorn: Accepting Dualities
"Roses come with thorns, and so does life. True spirituality isn't avoiding
pain—it's embracing it with grace. As Swamiji reminds us, equanimity is our
strength, and devotion is our anchor."
Just like a rose comes with thorns, life brings both pain and pleasure,
gain and loss, approval and criticism. Swamiji shares that trying to hold
onto only the petals while avoiding the thorns is unrealistic.
Mature spirituality is not avoiding the thorns—it’s seeing them as part of
the same divine package.
Lord Ram, for example, faced exile the night before his coronation. His
equanimity became his greatness. Saints don’t avoid problems—they embrace
them as tests of detachment and devotion.
The goal is not a life without pain—but a heart that can hold both joy and
pain without losing balance.
K Rajaram IRS 111025
On Sat, 11 Oct 2025 at 04:05, Jambunathan Iyer <[email protected]>
wrote:
> Failure is not the opposite of success but rather a stepping stone to it.
> Successful people understand that failure is an inevitable part of the
> journey and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
>
>
> *N Jambunathan , Chennai " What you get by achieving your goals is not as
> important as what you become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a
> happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things "*
>
>
>
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Thatha_Patty" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
To view this discussion visit
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZopHMQsUZxQ%2BtWm%2BnD4VrRdHCn3x29MYt%2BrGZxj0sfi7vQ%40mail.gmail.com.
