Sometime during the 1950s, two countries went to war because of a soccer tournament. The defeated team wanted to continue the fight on the battlefield, and the countries decided to fight each other.
Times haven’t changed that much. These days, the defeat of a team becomes a national issue that is mourned by the losing country. Some insights:
Victory and defeat, and pleasure and pain, are part of the dualities of the material world. A wise man sees this like the passing of the seasons. Our joys and pains will similarly fade away—and they will perish with time.
The temporary dualities are part of the world’s constantly changing landscape. A wise man watches these changes without being distracted by their presence or absence. He isn’t disturbed by changes in the external material dimension, because he stands on a stable spiritual platform of love for the Supreme, who gives him security, safety, happiness and peace.
A person who attaches himself to victories and defeats in the mundane world is like someone on a roller-coaster ride. He feels the highs and lows of the game and reacts to them like a child enamored with the glitter of the carnival!
Sooner or later, a better team comes along, a good team weakens and fine players get old—there’s a natural end to their glories. A wise person seeks the kind of victory that doesn’t fade or perish.
The purpose of human life is to seek imperishable joys that cannot be destroyed or taken away by time. Real triumph is acknowledging our spiritual nature and going back to our spiritual world. Gaining imperishable victory brings joy to the soul. We can all be winners if we love the Supreme Being.
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