The Real Achiver

                   
                 HOLLOW SUCCESS
         

             Maulana Wahiduddin khan


Feed the Body and the Soul MEN of fortune  become  subjects  of  envy  to  the  people  around them.  They  are  considered  fortunate  for  having  succeeded  in achieving  worldly  power  and  position.  But  do  those  who  have managed  to  come  to  the  top  necessarily  feel  that  this  is  so?  Probably not.  Wealth  is  not  all  that  man  needs.  It  can  at  best  serve  the  needs  of the  body,  leaving  the  soul  to  starve.  The  feeling  of  something  missing disturbs  one.  They  feel  as  helpless  as  a  common  man  does.  Faced  with a  vacuum  inside—a  yawning  gap  in  the  soul  that  has  to  be  filled,  one turns to something or the other for a sense of plenitude. To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it.  —Charles Caleb Colton This  fact  is  borne  out  by  an  article  published  in  The  Times  of  India  dated January  1,  1985.  In  spite  of  all  the  luxuries  at  his  command,  Mr.  Alfred Ford,  the  owner  of  the  famous  Ford  Motor  Company  in  the  USA  felt something missing in his life. His soul was not at rest, it was hankering after something else. In this state, when he was introduced to the Hare Krishna  movement,  he  felt  attracted  to  it  as  it  seemed  to  answer  and satisfy  the  cravings  of  his  soul.  He  joined  the  movement.  Afterwards  he married  a  Hindu  girl,  Sharmila  Battacharya  who  was  associated  with the  movement.  The  marriage  ceremony  took place in one of its centres in Australia. On this occasion, a photograph was published in the newspapers where he was seen in seamless clothes. Here is a part of the interview he gave to the AP correspondent: “I  am  not  a  car.  I’m  a  spiritual  soul,  just  like anyone  else.”  he  said.  “I’m  only  a  Ford  by name.” he further added. Wealth is not all that man needs. It can at best serve the needs of the body, leaving the soul to starve. No  amount  of  wealth  and  fortune  can  supply  the  needs  of  the human soul. Material things do not become part of one’s being. Soul cannot  rest  in  things  beneath  Itself.  That  is  why,  amidst  plenty,  one is  plagued  by  loneliness.  One  is  always  seeking  for  something  which can  compensate  this  loss,  which  can  fill  the  inner  vacancy,  which  can become a part of one’s being. Often man is unable to understand this, and  goes  sadly  astray.  The  only  true  answer  to  this  quest  for  a  sense of  spiritual  fulfillment  can  be  found  in  turning  to  God,  the  Lord  and Creator of everything.