Life is not about Success or Failure

One day, a young boy came into an ashram and asked the chief monk to give him some job and food.

The chief monk asked him about his qualifications, and any experience in any job and what he knows? 

The boy replied: "I have not studied in school. I have no proficiency in any work, I can do some odd jobs like washing food plates, cleaning up the cottage etc., I do not know anything else."

The chief monk asked, "Are you sure you do not know anything else?"

The boy replied: "Oh, yes, Sir, now I remember. I can play Chess."

The chief monk said: "Oh that's good. Now I shall test you in your game." He asked another monk to come with a chess board and chess pieces and asked for a table to be placed so that the game could start.

Before the start of the game, the chief monk said:  "Now listen. I have a sword on my hand. The one who loses the game will have his nose severed." The boy became nervous. However, without any other way to go, he agreed.

The game started. Initially, the boy made some mistakes in moves. His position on the board became almost hopeless. However, he then concentrated completely on the game and improved the position to a winning level.

Then he looked at his opponent.  He was not quite nervous but obviously disturbed a little.

The boy then thought, "I am a useless fellow in life. Nothing will change in the world if I lose the game and lose my nose. But this monk, is a well-qualified person, doing meditation and is sure to attain spiritual hood, Why should he lose?"

So, the young boy deliberately made a wrong move, so that the monk sitting opposite could take advantage and win the game.

The chief monk suddenly flashed his sword on the table.  All the chess pieces flew in different directions.

He then said: "The game is over.  Boy, you are IN. You will be with us in the monastery hereafter."

The boy did not understand.

The Chief Monk explained: 

"I did not ask you to play chess to find out your caliber in the game.  But I was looking for two essential qualities that are necessary for Self realization.

One is महाप्रज्ञा - Great Awareness

I found that in you. When your game became positionally bad, you put your entire concentration and attention on the game and improved your game.

The second one is महाकरुण  - Great Compassion

I found that also in you.  When your opponent was about to lose the game, you looked at him with great compassion and deliberately made a wrong move so that he could win.

These two qualities are adequate to do साधना and make the life meaningful."

Life isn't about winning or losing -there is nothing to win and nothing to lose