Pratyakhana ►Personal Success through Abandonment

All human beings possess desires– material as well as non -material. However, vast majority of these desires are an end in themselves. Having achieved ones desire does not necessarily mean that a person is happy. Human beings have an illusion that the achievement of their material goal will be rewarded with peace and happiness. It is not difficult to find examples where families have entered into litigation after accumulation of wealth. Furthermore, history is littered with examples where material conquests have been achieved at a tremendous cost. The invasions by Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the Romans are examples of such misadventures. Moreover, instead of winning the hearts and minds of the people, the masses despise them. At the other end of the scale vast family fortunes have helped in eradication of hunger, disease and ignorance. This long list of philanthropists includes Jagadu Shah, Bhama Shah, Babu Panalal, Andrew Carnegie, Rockefeller Family, Sainsbury Family, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and Azim Premji.

It is against this backdrop Samani Prasanna Pragya delivered her lecture on Pratyakhanaat Kings Edge Medical Centre, Kingsbury, and North London on 19th June 2011. She posed two questions to the audience relating to the challenges in life, namely;

1. To get what you want;
2. To want what you have

Samani Prasanna Pragya explained the meaning of success. Sometimes people who have more are not content whereas those who have little are satisfied. She pointed out to the audience that success is not necessarily related to outward success. In fact, inner satisfaction, peace and happiness are the ultimate goals of everyone.

By becoming part of other people’s problems and giving & sharing, one starts the journey towards abandonment. By discarding our anger, ego, deceit and greed, the road to pratyakhanabecomes easy. Lord Mahavir ‘invented’ pratyakhana to make society just and equitable.

Samani Vikas Pragya in her melodious voice recited a thought provoking bhajan appropriate to the theme of the lecture.

Mr Ashokbhai Gudka thanked Samani Prasanna Pragya for her inspiring talk.