Considering that I grew up in a predominantly Christian culture, I alternatively and quite often look to the East and to the past to widen my perspective and balance out my worldview metaphysically. So today, I want to share with you a fascinating concept from ancient Vedic teachings from India, on how to achieve mastery and overall material success, considering I have always been drawn to the idea of having a reasonable amount of influence in the world which I carry at the back of my head. In late 2018 I started following the 3 steps that i am about to share with you in my daily life and I have never felt more responsible and organized than I do now.
I am always in complete awe of those such as Karl Marx, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Einstein, Bill & Melinda Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, and Paul Kagame, just to name a few, who have achieved distinction in their fields and in turn continue to inspire and empower lives, while shaping and advancing humanity. Mastery, whether it be self-mastery or mastery of a craft, takes time. It is an ongoing process than involves a way of thinking and approaching goals. Nevertheless, we are all different, each one of us on a path unique to their own journey and purpose, and our timing is also different. Hence why this process will not appeal to all.
Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, after Christianity and Islam, and many scholars believe it to be the oldest with customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Widely practiced worldwide with 5, 000 Hindu residents in over 15 countries, it is still in India that Hinduism dominates with 95% of all Hindus living there. And while my knowledge of Hindu teachings and customs is very limited if at all existent, I happen to be a big Jyotish or Vedic Astrology enthusiast because I find it to be a wonderful tool for self-discovery and self-validation, along with traditional Western Astrology.
Jyotish is part of the ancient practices as by sacred texts in Vedic philosophy, and its essential function is to help one see all the unseen objects and the future events of the world. Vedic philosophy is also one of the major traditions that shaped Hinduism thousands of years ago, and its many rites continue to be observed within the framework of modern Hinduism. For stargazers interested in these ancient sciences that observe the symbolism in the cyclical movement of astronomical bodies in our solar system and beyond, I recommend watching the Astrology Podcast, KRS Channel and Ernst Wilhem on YouTube, who also offer courses on their respective websites, for those who want to take it further.
Although part of a much more complex system, there are certain pragmatic concepts worth noting that I have grasped and observed in my own daily life because of my continued interest and exposure to the Jyotish. The Hindu and Vedic philosophies observe 4 goals of life which should be achieved in the indicated order below. Similarly, the Jyotish, or Vedic Astrology, divides the sky into twelve equal sectors, known as the 12 houses of the birth chart, corresponding to the 12 signs of the zodiac into four groups, each associated with one of the 4 Aims of Life:
1. Kama (desires) – 3rd house, 7th house, 11th house
2. Artha (wealth, material resources) – 2nd house, 6th house,10th house
3. Dharma (righteousness, morality) – 1st house, 5th house, 9th house
4. Moksha (final liberation) – 4th house, 8th house, 12th house
The aim of Artha corresponds to the Earth element, which is the energy or traits of realism, patience, stability, fertility, physicality, and money or wealth. Congruently, Kama represents the Air element, or ideas and intellect, Dharma represents the Fire element, or passion and intuition and finally, Moksha represents the Water element, or emotion and introspection.
In Vedic philosophy, obtaining material success is not the objective of life because humans are said to be perpetually incarnated eternal beings to burn off karma by performing righteous acts. This statement corresponds to other popular idealist and dualist metaphysical philosophies across the globe. In contrast, materialists state that human development as well as human history are solely a result of material conditions, such as modes of production, infrastructure, and exchange systems, rather than ideals, which I agree with to a great extent. That is why I chose focus on pragmatic Artha, the 3-step cycle process, for this article:
STEP 1: BEGIN AT THE END. SET A GOAL IN MIND AND CREATE A MAP.
(10th house of career and achievements) --- It is your public image, your social media face, your reputation, and your legacy. This is your ultimate mastery in life.
All good planning should begin with an objective in mind, and so you must set personal goals first and then strive to achieve them. This is a crucial step which requires great foresight and self-knowledge, and a careful analysis of your personal values, concept of self, and your perceived purpose in life. While inspiring dreams and visions of saving the world, eradicating disease, and poverty sound like worthy objectives in life, these fall into the Kama category of desires. For Artha, objectives should be quantifiable (S.M.A.R.T) and must be set within a reasonable time-frame. This stage requires excellent long-term planning and patience.
For example: You may want to buy a lot, build an impressive building within a specific amount of time. You may want to do your PhD and start publishing. You could decide to launch your sustainable clothing line by end of the year. You may want to be a social commentator turned politician within a few years.
STEP 2: MOBILIZE YOUR RESOURCES
(2nd house of resources and self-worth) – It is your wallet, your bank account, your fixed assets, and your family assets. It is your ultimate sense of self-worth.
This is the foundation on which you build your success. This is the sector that contains all your values and assets; this could very well be monetary values like your bank balance, as well as your fixed assets. Or it could be intangible values such as talents, skills, and personality traits which you can monetize. Your family, friends and network circle are also an important resource that can be harnessed, not to be exploited, but to offer support when needed. This step will require adequate self-worth and self-confidence to neither undervalue nor overvalue yourself and what you have to offer. So, at this stage, clearly assess how much economic value you have to offer, learn how to package it well and how to sell it!
Example: To become a dancer or a performer you must have corresponding talents, or skills, if not, you can get funds for a class, or a training. For politicians or even journalists, communication skills and talents come into play, and especially connections and networks. To be hired as a software developer, you can maximize on your computer skills and tech enthusiasm.
STEP 3: TRANSFORMATION WITH THE MACHINE
(6th house of health and daily organization) – It is your morning and night routine, your workday, your hygiene, and your approach to details. It is your ultimate capacity for efficiency.
Lastly, this sector involves time management, short-term planning, and daily organization. It is at this stage that the real work begins. How well you manage your time day to day, and how well you treat your body is what determines how successful you become. The machine in question is your body, the systematic physiological intelligence, which responds best to repetition and routines. So, a healthy diet, daily exercise, and ample sleep ensure maximal strength and vitality. At this stage, you begin to transform your resources or talents, through a system of daily work and efficient use of time and energy, to accomplish your long-term goals.
For example: To become an author, you must write a few pages every day. To win a swimming competition, you must try to beat your record time in each training. To get your dream job at a video game design company you must perfect your portfolio constantly. To drop a new commercial in 1 month, an advertising agency has a to-do list of things they must accomplish to produce an enticing media package.
Mentors, colleagues, and partners play a vital purpose of keeping us accountable, and from them we may draw inspiration, courage, and support. However, most of the work falls upon our shoulders and requires discipline, dedication, and vision. Taking ownership of our actions empowers us to learn from problems and get past setbacks, rather than let them dictate our success. You cannot ultimately understand why you are drawn to certain activities or forms of knowledge; but that is what makes your uniqueness. In following your inclinations and moving toward your own mastery, you will make great contributions to society, enriching it with your discoveries and insights.
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