Indian tradition mentions six qualities as the arch-enemies of success and happiness. These are : Arrogance, greed, lust for sensual pleasures, anger, jealousy and attachment to indulgence. Even in your working life, you will find greater success and effectiveness if you control these fatal attractions.
While self-assurance and a noble style of living are necessary for every individual, arrogance is a negative quality. An arrogant person loses friends and suffers loneliness in the end. His family comes close to him for comfort and courage. He is abhorred by his subordinates and colleagues of his rudeness and combativeness.
Wanting legitimate benefits and the wish to satisfy one’s needs in life is natural. But o turn these needs into avarice or greed is dangerous. A greedy person cannot be ethical. He/she will do anything to get money or advantages which he/she has not earned. Greed has no end if you let it rule your life.
Lust, when uncontrolled, leads you on a sure path of destruction. It fritters away your creative energies and corrodes your soul. Though desire is a natural part of human existence, it must not become a disease.
Anger, when misused, is the worst enemy of mankind. In today’s frenetic lifestyle, one sees the expression at every turn of life. Anger creates confusion; it could reason; it takes away your ability to discern between right and wrong; it destroys your ability to listen patiently and be just to all points of view. Anger is an expression of immaturity because it does not encourage you to do self-analysis and find the cause of your hurt or the cause of your anger. Often, your inner deprivation or insecurity makes you angry at the world and others in your environment become the targets of your impatience, rage or aggression. Anger and aggression cause oppression to those around you and isolate you in time. Needless to say, anger ruins your mental and physical health. However, anger against injustice, against misbehaviour or misconduct are natural for everyone.
Jealousy seems to be the flavour of the modern ager. Our media thrives on this quality among those who compete for social prominence, media presence, glamour, money, possessions and sex. While healthy competition is always with your own past performance. It is not good enough to be better that the next person. You have to be the best. Only the desire to do your very best and then to improve on yourself, can lead to success and happiness. Indulgence leads you to sure depression. Becoming the slave of any habit to the extent that you are totally dependent on something or someone for everything in life is equivalent to a disease. While everything created by divinity is for your enjoyment, be sure to regulate your life so that the ‘joys’ of life do not lead you to misery!
Indian tradition also names the five senses, which, when allowed to rule your life, can lead you into trouble. These are sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. When these demand pleasures beyond all reasonable limits, they become your enemies. When you use the five senses for your own physical, mental and spiritual development, you come nearer to your goals. But when the senses become your guideposts and make you their slaves by demanding more and more pleasures in life, then you are stepping on dangerous grounds. When you pamper the senses, you spend your entire life satisfying their demands. Their endless demands corrupt your discerning power. A person who holds his/her senses in control and makes them strong agents for growth in life, becomes successful and happy.
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