Attainments and Accomplishments

   The general impression among the people is to attain something, accomplish something if one is to be successful in life. Acquiring status, power and position in society, and getting rich, amassing wealth are all considered success. Anything that brings praise, certificates and accolades is considered progress and children are encouraged to get these, Some preach- 'dream and aim high'. All these lead to disappointments, disillusionment, frustration, and depression at the end. Life seems to be meaningless when there is nothing more to achieve, nothing to attain. In case of depression leading to suicides, it may be said that the unreasonable demands of society, parents, teachers and guides, are responsible. It is sheer ignorance that we are running after worldly attainments disregarding the soul's clamor for release form the bondage of earthly existence. 

  When we see persons with great accomplishment such as Presidents and Prime Ministers, scholars winning accolades and prizes, celebrities such as Olympians, star athletes, film stars suffering in neglect and penury, some with strokes lie in coma, or many who held very high positions get imprisoned and sent to jail or put in house arrest, and some get shot and killed, etc. it is obvious that these positions they held are not worth a pence?

  We forget the fact that there is an inner craving for release, emancipation, redemption or liberation from embodiment. The soul remains a helpless mute witness in the jiva's foolish engagement in the worldly attainments forgetting the very purpose for which it came to existence in such and such a form. It sends constant signals, but the jiva ignores them. Thus, the jiva's predicament is to suffer due to its ignorance. 

   The great sages advise us to seek a good teacher and work for the realization of the Self, atma sakshatkara. It takes several lives to attain the knowledge of the self (atma jnyana). Since the jiva runs in a repeated cycle of births and deaths it is enough eve if some progress is made in each life whenever there is some time. The jiva has to work steadfast life after life to get the knowledge of the scriptures and realize the essence of these with practical exercises in yoga. Otherwise the jiva will rejoice in sensual pleasures and suffer life after life.