The path to success, peace and joy!

So, you want to be successful? You want to be rid of all your problems? And you want to experience unadulterated joy__bliss?

Be sure, there’s a simple path to attain success and to be peaceful and joyful. It doesn’t cost as much in real monetary terms as much as it calls for an investment of some time and effort from you. Just set aside an hour a week and set out on this path with a selfless and clear conscience.

Here’s what you do: Choose a day of the week on which you believe you can spare an hour around lunch time. That is, budget an hour between 12.30 PM and 3.00 PM. Either cook a simple meal or takeaway a meal from a decent, qualitative eatery near you. Ideally, this should not cost you more that Rs.70/- per meal. Make sure the meal is packed well, is fresh and hot. Once ready, drive a few blocks around your home or office; within a radius of two to three kilometers. Look for__and you will find them__the most deserving people according to you who need a meal desperately. You may find a destitute or a specially- abled person or even your neighbourhood rag picker. Stop and hand that person the meal. Look into the person’s eyes as you hand the meal, and THANK him/her. Watch him or her accept the meal and graciously accept your sentiment of gratitude. When you walk away from him/her, THANK him/her again. Well, why THANK, you may wonder? Because this person has helped you experience and live, in that moment, the purpose of your creation. Which is to SERVE.

Remember, you, me, every one of the billions of people on the planet has been created to SERVE. And because we have either not understood, discovered or experienced this purpose of our creation, we sometimes spend entire lifetimes searching for why we are here. And most of such lifetimes are spent feeling insecure, worried and frustrated.

So, how can this ‘feeding routine’ make a difference? First, it helps you slow down in your life, and take some quality time to connect with another human being. Do we even realise that we have stopped relating to fellow beings as humans? That power, position, perks and social status come ahead of our basic need to respect another life and appreciate another opinion? When you, through this unique exercise, do connect with a fellow being as another human, and since you don’t have any personal or professional equation with this person, you will, hopefully, approach the relationship with a selflessness, which brings to the surface your true, natural state. Third, in being in harmony with your true, natural state, you will find a rare peace in you. Just as we all breathe to stay alive, we have also to contribute and give__selflessly__to experience bliss__unadulterated joy.

We can learn a lesson or two from Mother Nature here. Have you ever seen a tree demanding anything in return for what it gives us__the oxygen we breathe, the shade we rest in, the fruits that nourish us and the paper that this article is printed on? How often do you find another human who is as selfless? The truth is, nature gives and forgives. Man gets and forgets! The ‘feeding routine’ recommended here actually is an opportunity for us to suppress our acquired (mechanical) instincts, stop running the rat race and for us to feel human again. And when we start feeling human and start living a life of purpose__intelligently__again, we find the milestones, that were eluding us so far, on that path. Those are success, peace and joy.

If you have an urge to immediately dismiss this recommendation as ‘mushy philosophy’, think again. At less than Rs.100 a week, if you believe you can be happy, peaceful and successful, don’t you think that’s a good deal? Well, it’s a steal.

Try it this week. You will want to do this every week going forward__and live happily ever after!

The Learning:
1. The purpose of your creation is to SERVE
2. So, serve, selflessly and without expectation
3. This is your path to success, peace and joy!