An enlightened teacher had many students, one of whom was a businessman just starting out. Eager to make his new business successful, the businessman approached the guru and asked for blessings to achieve abundance and prosperity.
The guru agreed to give his blessings but set a condition. He outlined a rule that the businessman had to follow for a week:
- Five Days of Work: The guru instructed the businessman to work for himself and his business from Monday to Friday. He emphasized that success comes from one’s own efforts and planning, reinforcing the idea that “God helps those who help themselves.”
- One Day for Family: Out of the two weekend days, the guru insisted that one day should be entirely dedicated to family. The businessman was to disconnect from work completely and spend quality time with his loved ones, highlighting the importance of maintaining balance and understanding the purpose behind his hard work.
- One Day for Helping Others: The most challenging part of the guru’s rule was dedicating one day to helping someone else achieve success. This meant not thinking about his business or family but focusing on the success of another person. This condition made the businessman hesitate, as it required selflessness and was directly against his immediate desires.
When the businessman questioned why he should help someone else, the guru revealed a deeper lesson. The guru explained that the businessman wasn’t ready for his blessings because he didn’t understand the laws of karma. Blessings and prayers alone couldn’t override the necessity of responsible actions. Positive karma, created through selfless acts, would accelerate and improve his own manifestations and success.
The story concludes with the guru emphasizing that living within the laws of karma and creating positive karma would align the universe to work in the businessman’s favor. The key takeaway is that success is a balance of personal effort, family commitment, and selfless service to others, all governed by the universal laws of karma.