You are special

Most of us find that there is no fulfillment either in our home or work life. Our occupational and marriage relationships often give an appe...

Most of us find that there is no fulfillment either in our home or work life. Our occupational and marriage relationships often give an appearance of satisfaction and harmony, but are you enjoying and growing as a person? No. You feel locked up, boxed into a situation and don8217;t know what to do. When your guru asks, 8216;8216;How8217;s everything?8217;8217; you answer lifelessly, 8216;8216;Swamiji, I8217;m carrying on. Nothing very important or exciting.8217;8217; You lack energy to do anything, and the reason is because, from the very beginning, you did not say exactly what you wanted from the relationship or contract with another. Without acknowledging what your needs and the other person8217;s needs are, how can a common understanding develop? How can you discover a common ground so that, jointly, both of you can grow? 8216;8216;Saha dharmam caratha8217;8217; 8212; 8216;8216;Let us walk together on the path of righteousness.8217;8217; This line is recited in Hindu marriage ceremonies. That is the basis and meaning of marriage: we are trying to mutually grow in our association with one another. As we mutually grow in relationship, the unique needs and talents of each person are expressed and fulfilled.

Let me tell a story: Thinking his son was useless, Hastamalaka8217;s father declared, 8216;8216;I renounce you,8217;8217; and Hastamalaka was gifted to Adi Sankara. But, unlike the body8217;s father, Sankara saw an extraordinary individual. He had the ability to recognise the intelligence and unlock the uniqueness of this child. Sankara asked Hastamakala only one relevant, philosophical question, 8216;8216;Child, who are you?8217;8217; The question stirred Hastamalaka, whose name means, 8216;8216;For whom Truth is like a berry in the hollow of his hand8217;8217; 8212; and the child responded by writing a wonderful composition, 8216;8216;Hastamalakiyam8217;8217; 8212; meaning, 8216;8216;Song of the Self.8217;8217; Sankara himself was impressed by the profundity of the boy and wrote a commentary on Hastamalaka8217;s song. And Hastamalaka became one of the greatest disciples of Sankara and a spiritual master.

Today, we have devised standardised intelligent tests, but those are inadequate means by which to measure someone8217;s real intelligence. The 8216;8216;idiot-boy8217;8217; was talented, but others saw him through the same old standard lens that they used for everyone. They possessed no standard by which to discover another8217;s uniqueness, excellence and genius. While Hastamalaka8217;s genius went unrecognised in one environment and situation, new associations allowed him to flourish, and his genius finally became recognised.

Extracted from the book 8216;Seven Hindu Spiritual Laws of Success8217;