Seven secrets of success

Shrii Shrii Anandamurti - 21 May 1979 evening, Timmern (West Germany).
Audio mp3

«You've heard so much regarding Shiva and Pa'rvatii. Pa'rvatii was the spouse of Shiva. What is Tantra? In Tantra there are two portions, A'gama and Nigama, just like the two wings of a bird. Nigama is the philosophical questions and A'gama is the practical cult. The cult side is A'gama and the philosophical side is Nigama. These are just like the two wings of a bird, and the bird is Tantra.

A'gatam' Shiva vaktebhyam'
Gatam' ca girija' shrutam
Matam' ca va'sudesvaya
Tasma'd a'gama ucyate.

Pa'rvatii asked and Shiva gave the reply. One question of Pa'rvatii was, "O Lord, what are the secrets of success? Many people do many a thing, but not all are successful in their lives. What's the secret of success?"

Shiva said, "There are seven secrets":

Phalis'yatiiti vishva'sa siddherprathama laks'an'am
Dvitiiyam' shraddhaya' yuktam'
Trtiiyam' Gurupu'janam
Caturtho samata'bha'vo
Paincamendriya nigraha
S'as't'hainca pramita'ha'rah
Saptamam' naeva vidyate.

"I must be successful in my mission" this firm determination is the first factor. This firm determination is the first requisite factor out of these seven factors. And what is this firm determination?

Nindantu niitinipun'ah yad va' stavantu
Laks'mii sama'vishatu graham' gacchatu va' yathes't'ham
Adyaeva maran'amastu yuga'ntare va'
Nya'ya't pathi pravicalanti na dhiirah
Pra'rabhyate na khalu vighna bhayena niicaeh
Vighnavihita' viramante madhyo
Vighnaer muhur muhur api pratihanyama'na'h
Pra'rabhya uttamagun'o na parityajanti.

What am I going to do regarding the mission of life? If logicians and philosophers condemn me, saying, "That is a very bad man," let them say like this. Or if, due to my mission, due to my movement towards my goal, a certain portion of society appreciates my action, let them appreciate it - it won't affect me. I won't be assailed by such appreciations.
And due to my action if Laks'mii (Laks'mii is the mythological goddess of riches) comes and resides in my house, it is good. If Laks'mii says, "No, I will quit you forever, I won't remain with you." that is, you will have to suffer from poverty, let Laks'mii quit my house. And due to my course of action, due to my ideology, if Pluto, that is, the god of death, comes and says, "I'll take you" let Pluto do it! I don't care a pig for it! Or, due to my course of action, due to my ideology if I am forced to live here for an indefinite period, I am ready to live here. You know life becomes boring if one lives for a long period, but I am ready to undergo that boredom, that monotony, for the sake of my ideology.

I know that among human beings there are three categories. The third category won't undertake any responsibility for fear of being defeated. And in the second category, they undertake the duties and responsibilities, but when they face the reactions, when inimical forces come forward and harass them, they drop the work. They are the second category of people. And in the first category, that is, the best category, they say, "Once I have undertaken the duty, I will do it. I will get the work fully complied with. Before that I won't take any rest."

So this is firm determination. It is the first requisite factor, as Lord Shiva said. "Phalis'yatiiti vishva'sa siddherprathama laks'an'am dvitiiyam' shraddhaya' yuktam." A man must have Shraddha' for his ideology. What is Shraddha'? Shraddha is a very old Vedic term. Shrad means recognized status of veracity, and Dha means movement towards.
That is, when the ideological goal has been accepted, all my might, all my propensities, should move unto that goal. This is Shraddha.

Trtiiyam' Gurupu'janam. I must have reverence for the Guru. What is the Guru? Gu means darkness, that is, darkness in the psycho-spiritual sphere. And Ru means dispelling agent. That is, he who dispels darkness from my psychic and spiritual body is the Guru. Gu means darkness, Ru means dispeller. Trtiiyam' Gurupu'janam.' That is, you must have respect for the Guru.

Caturtho samata'bha'vo. And the fourth requisite factor is that you must maintain a mental equilibrium, rather, a mental equipoise; you must not suffer from any sort of inferiority complex, or superiority complex, or defeatist complex, or complex of hopelessness or despair. That is, your mind should always be in a balanced condition. Caturtho samata'bha'vo. This is the fourth factor, fourth requisite factor - you must not suffer from an inferiority complex nor from a superiority complex.

Paincamendriya nigraha. You must have self-restraint. Without self-restraint, nothing concrete can be done.

You should remember these factors.

S'as't'hainca pramita'ha'ra, that is, balanced diet, balanced food. You must not take this much [stretches arms far apart], you should take this much [holds hands closer together]. But the food should be substantial. And not only that, it should be good for your body, mind and spirit. Meat and other animal products may be good for the body, but not good for the mind and spirit. So yours should be a careful selection of food. It is called Pramita'ha'ra - Pramita means balanced, A'ha'ra means food.

And the seventh Lord Shiva said - He said there are seven factors, now He says, Saptamam' naeva vidyate - there is no seventh factor.

You should remember these seven factors. These are the secrets of success.

[To a devotee] - What is the seventh factor?

[Devotee] - Ba'ba', there is no seventh factor.

[Ba'ba'] - No seventh factor [laughs heartily, all laugh].

You should always remember these seven secrets of success.»

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Official source: A'nanda Vacana'mrtam Part 12 - cross-references: Ba'ba' in Timmern (as "Seven Secrets of Success")