One of the biggest topics we like to avoid is the notion of failure. At a societal level, it is very much reflected on what social standing we have, what type of job we work, what sort of school we attend, perhaps even our family name or where our home is located. Many point to these factors for the root cause of failure. However, on a personal level, this is reflected by our own self-perception; that is, what do people think of me, does this define who I am, and am I cared for or even valued?
Failure itself seems to be caused by a fear. We are often fearful of what we know or do not understand. A child fears punishment if he or she does the wrong thing, yet if they do not meet the parent’s expectations, they are labelled as failures. A student is failed on a test if they do not complete the answers, but the reason behind this may be a fear of getting the answer incorrect. A professional in their own corporate career fears that they will not get an opportunity for a promotion or raise if they do not follow their superior’s instruction, even if it means bending the law, but may do so anyway, and be labelled an ethical failure by their peers.
The fear of the unknown often robs our ability to put our complete trust in God. We begin to put our trust in people and circumstances beyond our control, and become frustrated when things do not happen as expected. But the Maha Satguru instead, shows us why there is no need to worry about the things of this life when we put our trust in God. As He says, there is no point in worrying about what we will eat, or about what we will wear – for life consists of more than these. For there is a treasure in heaven that will never fail. In that place, no one can give nor can anyone take away; for where the treasure is, there the heart is also.
For those who follow the advice of the Maha Satguru, it is important to identify where our focus lies – is it focused on the things below, where moth and rust destroy; or is it on the things above, which are eternal?