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Swami Swaroopananda: The journey from success signifigance
âIs destiny a matter of chance, luck? Is it some God-written law â or is it something based on our efforts and actions,â said Swaroopananda, the senior speaker of the Chinmaya Mission in India, as he arrived from Yogyakarta after visiting Borobudur and Prambanan temples
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'Is destiny a matter of chance, luck? Is it some God-written law ' or is it something based on our efforts and actions,' said Swaroopananda, the senior speaker of the Chinmaya Mission in India, as he arrived from Yogyakarta after visiting Borobudur and Prambanan temples.
He noted that people often worked on endeavors that failed to yield the desired results ' and their immediate reactions were to accuse others, fate or even God.
'If we understand that [failure] is the result of our past actions and produces destiny, then we will take responsibility for our present actions,' says Swaroopananda. 'We will act in a certain manner to build a better future for ourselves and for others around us.'
He said that this required certain values and a mastery of our minds, e.g., knowing who was in charge and who we really were. 'If we train our minds to face life's difficulties and circumstances, we become the master of them, rather than becoming a victim to them.'
Swaroopananda has been giving talks under the flagship of the Chinmaya Mission for over 30 years.
He began at the age of 12, listening to the words of his mentor, Guru Swami Chinmayananda, who was a journalist in his younger days.
'Guru Swami Chinmayananda has been an inspiration, [someone] who possessed such spiritual brilliance as well as wisdom, knowledge and eloquence. He worked literally 24/7 to dedicate his entire life to the service of people from any background, any religion,' he says.
Swaroopananda says that he grew up in a family that believed in values. He attributes the start of his spiritual journey to his grandmother's epic stories. He also cites his father, who was active in social services, as another source of inspiration.
Swaroopananda has since given lectures at Harvard University, as well for businesses such as the Ford Motor Company, Credit Suisse and Max New York Life.
'When I speak to the top management, it is not a question of their success because they have previously achieved it. It is from success to significance,' he says.
'How they can expand their vision? Very often their success becomes their own limitation. They reach a platform and beyond that they don't grow. They have to be daring and different again to bring in fresh ideas,' according to Swaroopananda.
It's what he calls a spirit of sacrifice and service, which he defines as doing something special.
'Every action of ours needs to be done with a sense of responsibility to the world at large ' not taking them as separate from us, but as one with us.' Acting with this mindfulness allows people to automatically share their productivity, wealth, knowledge, experiences and, most importantly, love, he added.
'If I consider myself to be a physical being, then the only important thing for me is preserving my body. My interaction with people will only be at a physical level,' Swaroopananda says. 'A person who is emotional will set his goals, achievements and relationships at an emotional level.'
When a person rises above the physical and emotional, the mind achieves an intellectual state where people can conceive and realize unimaginable goals, as their outlooks on everything and everyone has changed, he adds.
'If I see myself as the truth, as a spiritual person, as the very embodiment of divinity itself, then I can interact with people at that divine level. When I see oneness with people, naturally my reactions are not just for myself, but they will also be for all people.'
He continues, 'Whenever our minds are quiet and we live in a spirit of love, cooperation and sharing, then there will always be efficiency, productivity, growth and prosperity.'
Swaroopananda also teaches the principles of Vedanta which shows people the path to knowledge of the self gained through the mastering of the mind and meditation. The end result is supposed to be happiness, peace and love.
'When you master your mind there is nothing in this world that you cannot achieve,' according to the swami, who says the principles of Vedanta are universal and do not belong to any culture, religion or caste. 'Vedanta is the most logical universal science of life, with no prejudices, dogmas or beliefs,' he says.
Swaroopananda says we must live our lives with proper understanding and knowledge, making the right choices in life.
People, he adds, must realize that God is in everything and know that the self in me is the 'very self' in everyone. Lifestyles may be different but we are one and the same.
Swaroopananda can be seen on Zee TV in the mornings. He is the creator of an online course titled 'Make It Happen' for the Chinmaya International Foundation.
The 18-week course for students, individuals, business executives and professionals teaches people who want to make a difference in their lives.
Swaroopananda sums it all up in two sentences. 'The world is no more than your thoughts. We are here to be happy and spread happiness.'
